Adipose-Derived Therapies for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Do They Work and Are They Safe?

Adipose-derived therapies, including micronized adipose tissue, enzymatically extracted stromal vascular fraction, or culture-expanded adipose-derived stromal cells, have become promising within the field of orthobiologics due to their potential to support tissue healing and possible utility as a treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Several recent randomized controlled trials have shown the efficacy of adipose-derived therapies in improving pain and function in patients with knee KOA. However, despite the growing interest and numerous studies conducted, follow-up is often short-term and there is significant variability in preparation methods and cell concentration in the literature.