Treatment of Osteoarthritis with Minimally invasive AD-SVF

Adipose-derived Stromal Vascular Fraction (Ad-SVF) contains a heterogeneous mix of adipose stromal cells, progenitor cells, pericytes, T-regulatory cells, endothelial progenitor cells, anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages, extracellular matrix, and many other cells types.

Cell isolation from adipose tissue is done without using any enzyme, chemical, or cell culture.

These cells are injected into the articular space of the joint, where they attach themselves to the damaged sites, and due to its unique ability, they form/repair the site they attach. Thus, they help in the formation of the cartilage and repair of the other tissues inside the joint.

The process is done in these basic steps – lipoaspiration of adipose tissue, tissue dissociation using sonication, centrifugation, and filtration which takes around 40 minutes.

The stromal vascular fraction is very safe in comparison to other treatment modalities:

• Firstly, it is autologous, it means, the cells obtained are of the patient’s own.

• Secondly, the processing and administration of the injection are done in the same single surgical sitting

• There are no age limitations for this treatment

• Preferred in the early grade of osteoarthritis

• BMI of the patient is not a limiting factor

• Done under local anesthesia

• Patients can start walking from the same day

• No limitations even in patients with other comorbidities like hypertension,  diabetes mellitus, etc. and can be recommended even in patients who have undergone major heart surgery

The delivery of the stromal vascular fraction is done in the intra-articular space (i.e. within the articular space of the joint).

The patient can feel the effect (reduction in pain) within the first week of the treatment and by 3-4 weeks, the patient can get back to their normal activities.

There is clinical evidence that reported the growth of cartilage inside the knee joint over time. Thus, it provides long term benefits and in many cases, there is no requirement of any further intervention.

But if there is severe deterioration of knee cartilage (late-stage osteoarthritis), the only option available is to go for surgical intervention.

Though, this therapy is not recommended if the patient is pregnant, or having any blood disorders, or is too lean to obtain sufficient adipose tissue, or having any ongoing infection, or having gout or pseudogout, or is having any chronic terminal disease like cancer.