Mechanical Processing of SVF-Enriched Microfat for Reconstruction of Traumatic Soft Tissue Defects

Traumatic soft tissue defects pose significant challenges for reconstruction due to tissue loss, impaired vascularity, and difficulties achieving durable coverage. Adipose tissue offers a practical autologous tissue source, and mechanically processed stromal vascular fraction (SVF)-enriched microfat can be prepared intraoperatively without enzymatic digestion. This study presents a standardized clinical protocol for harvesting autologous adipose tissue and processing it into SVF-enriched microfat for injection into cavity-type traumatic soft tissue defects. Fat is harvested manually from the thigh or abdomen under low negative pressure, mechanically fragmented by cutting and syringe-to-syringe emulsification, filtered to achieve uniform microfat consistency, and centrifuged to isolate the SVF-containing fraction. The processed microfat is injected throughout the wound cavity in a multilayered pattern. Postoperative assessment includes serial clinical evaluation, photographic documentation, and measurement of wound-area reduction until epithelialization. In a small cohort, the method was associated with progressive wound contraction and complete epithelialization within approximately 4-8 weeks, with no major complications. Although cellular composition and viability were not quantified, the technique provided a feasible intraoperative approach suitable for settings without access to enzymatic processing or laboratory facilities. This protocol offers a practical, minimally manipulated method for delivering SVF-enriched microfat in managing traumatic cavity-type defects and may serve as a foundation for further controlled studies.