Treatment of patients with hyaline cartilage defects of knee and ankle joints using stromal vascular fraction cells from adipose tissue
We present the results of treatment of 19 patients with cartilage defects of the knee and ankle joints, who were treated with stromal vascular fraction cells obtained from adipose tissue with a follow-up of up to 3 years. All the patients underwent pre-treatment and diagnostic arthroscopy, during which the extent of chondral defects, depth and localization of lesions were evaluated. Under local anesthesia, the samples of adipose tissue were taken, from which the cells of stromal vascular fraction were subsequently isolated according to the previously described protocol. 5 patients underwent mini-arthrotomy of knee joint with locking cellular material with fibrin glue, 14 patients underwent injecting into the affected joint. Positive effect on the period of 6 months or more was observed in 84.2% of patients. Cell therapy using stromal vascular fraction cells from adipose tissue may be an effective treatment for patients with cartilage defects of the articular surfaces even in case of osteoarthritis.