Table 14.
Summary of the published clinical studies
| Category | No. of studies | References |
|---|---|---|
| Cell source | ||
| Bone marrow | 22 (71%) | [103–105, 109, 111–113, 115–118, 120, 122–128, 130–132] |
| Adipose | 5 (16%) | [106–108, 110, 114] |
| Peripheral blood | 2 (6%) | [119, 121] |
| Synovium | 2 (6%) | [129, 133] |
| Cell delivery | ||
| Arthroscopic implantation | ||
| Hyaluronic acid membrane | 2 (6%) | [117, 130] |
| Hyaluronic acid with fibrin glue or platelet gel | 2 (6%) | [116, 128] |
| Polyglycolic acid/hyaluronan | 2 (6%) | [127, 131] |
| Collagen with platelet gel | 1 (3%) | [116] |
| Fibrin glue | 1 (3%) | [108] |
| HYAFF 11 scaffold | 1 (3%) | [132] |
| Acetate Ringer solution | 1 (3%) | [133] |
| Unspecified | 1 (3%) | [107] |
| Intra-articular injection | ||
| PBS only | 2 (6%) | [104, 110] |
| PBS with HA | 2 (6%) | [119, 121] |
| Autologous serum | 2 (6%) | [115, 123] |
| Ringer lactate solution | 3 (10%) | [103, 111, 112] |
| PBS with serum albumin | 1 (3%) | [105] |
| HA and PRP | 1 (3%) | [106] |
| PRP | 1 (3%) | [114] |
| Commercial serum | 1 (3%) | [109] |
| Transplantation by open surgery | ||
| Collagen | 6 (21%) | [103, 113, 118, 122, 124, 126, 129] |
| Ascorbic acid-mediated sheet | 2 (7%) | [120, 123] |
| Fibrin glue | 1 (4%) | [125] |
| Cell dose | ||
| Less than 10 million | 8 (26%) | [105, 107, 108, 114, 120, 122, 124, 129] |
| 10–20 million | 5 (16%) | [113, 118, 119, 123, 125] |
| Over 20 million | 7 (23%) | [103, 104, 109–112, 133] |
| Unspecified | 11 (35%) | [106, 115–117, 121, 126–128, 130–132] |
| Follow-up | ||
| Up to 6 months | 4 (13%) | [104–106, 110] |
| Up to 12 months | 6 (19%) | [103, 109, 111, 124, 125, 127] |
| Up to 2 years | 11 (35%) | [107, 113–116, 120, 121, 128–131] |
| Up to 3 years | 7 (23%) | [108, 112, 117, 119, 122, 126, 132] |
| Over 3 years | 2 (6%) | [118, 133] |
| Assessments | ||
| Radiology (MRI, X-ray) | 24 (77%) | [103–106, 109–112, 115–117, 119, 121–125, 127–133] |
| Arthroscopic assessment incl. histology | 17 (54%) | [107, 108, 113, 116–122, 124–126, 130–133] |
| IKDC | 10 (32%) | [107, 108, 115, 121, 122, 126, 128, 130–132] |
| VAS pain | 12 (39%) | [103–106, 109–112, 114, 129, 131, 132] |
| Tegner activity scale | 8 (26%) | [107, 108, 114, 115, 129, 131–133] |
| Lysholm | 6 (19%) | [114, 115, 125, 128, 131, 133] |
| KOOS | 5 (16%) | [126, 128–130, 132] |
| Function (no scoring systems or unspecified) | 4 (13%) | [104–106, 109] |
| ICRS cartilage injury evaluation package | 3 (10%) | [120, 123, 125] |
| Clinical symptoms/outcomes (no scoring system or unspecified) | 3 (10%) | [105, 109, 124] |
| (Revised) Hospital for special surgery knee-rating scale | 2 (6%) | [113, 125] |
| Functional Rating Index | 2 (6%) | [104, 106] |
| WOMAC | 5 (16%) | [103, 109–112] |
| AOFAS score | 2 (6%) | [112, 116, 117] |
| Knee Society Score | 1 (3%) | [110] |
| Harris Hip Score | 1 (3%) | [112] |
| Concomitant procedures | ||
| Subchondral bone marrow stimulation (multiple perforation, drilling, abrasion chondroplasty) | 11 (35%) | [113, 115, 118, 119, 121–123, 125, 127, 128, 131] |
| Debridement, synovectomy, excision of degenerative tears (no subchondral bone marrow stimulation) | 8 (26%) | [107, 108, 114, 116, 117, 124, 130, 133] |
| ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, osteotomy, or patella alignment, ACL calcification removal, trochlear resurfacing, osteochondral fragment fixation | 8 (26%) | [115, 123, 126, 129–133] |
| None | 6 (19%) | [103, 105, 106, 110–112] |
| Not specified | 3 (10%) | [104, 109, 120] |
| Previous procedures | ||
| Microfractures/multiple perforation/multiple drilling | 6 (19%) | [104, 116, 117, 122, 125, 130] |
| Menisectomy | 6 (19%) | [103, 111, 124, 129, 131, 133] |
| ACL reconstruction | 4 (13%) | [103, 111, 131, 133] |
| Multiple (microfracture, debridement) | 1 (3%) | [119] |
| ACI | 2 (6%) | [116, 117] |
| None | 6 (19%) | [106–108, 110, 114, 118] |
| Not specified | 9 (29%) | [105, 109, 112, 115, 120, 121, 126, 128, 132] |
PBS phosphate-buffered saline, HA hyaluronic acid, PRP plate-rich-plasma, RCT randomised controlled study, KOOS Knee and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, IKDC score International Knee Documentation Committee Score, WOMAC the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, AOFAS the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society