Efficacy of stromal vascular fraction in the treatment of scars: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in treating scars using the latest meta-analysis. METHODS: We used PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science to search the studies used to evaluate the efficacy of SVF in scar treatment. At least one of the following outcome measures were reported vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability, surface area, pain, itching and color. RESULTS: A total of four eligible articles comprising 145 patients (64 SVF patients and 81 non-SVF patients) were included. The findings of this meta-analysis indicated that SVF had significant therapeutic effects in terms of vascularity (SMD/MD, 95% CI -1.12, -0.02; p = 0.04), itching (SMD/MD, 95% CI -0.61, -0.13; p = 0.002), POSAS (SMD/MD, 95% CI -5.93, -1.47; p = 0.001), and thickness (SMD/MD, 95% CI -1.04, -0.35; p < 0.001). In terms of OSAS (SMD/MD, 95% CI -9.14, 0.59; p = 0.09), pigmentation (SMD/MD, 95% CI -1.02, 0.06; p = 0.08), relief (SMD/MD, 95% CI -1.14, 0.16; p = 0.14), surface area (SMD/MD, 95% CI -0.91, 0.26; p = 0.27), PSAS (SMD/MD, 95% CI -7.20, 0.49; p = 0.09), pain (SMD/MD, 95% CI -0.87, 0.07; p = 0.10), pliability (SMD/MD, 95% CI -0.57, 0.01; p = 0.06), and color (SMD/MD, 95% CI -1.78, 0.48; p = 0.26), there were no significant statistical differences. CONCLUSION: In view of the heterogeneity and potential selective bias, further large-scale, prospective, and multicenter clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy and reliability of SVF in the treatment of scars.