Evaluating the effects of digital stromal vascular fraction injections in systemic sclerosis patients: a retrospective study

• Published in: European journal of plastic surgery 2024-07, Vol.47 (1), Article 75
• Main Authors: Nietlispach, Viviane, Besmens, Inga S., Jordan, Suzana, Distler, Oliver, Calcagni, Maurizio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Paper; Plastic Surgery
• ISSN: 1435-0130; 1435-0130
• DOI: 10.1007/s00238-024-02217-x

Objective Managing hand symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis is difficult, and the current treatments often provide only limited relief of. In 2014 a new treatment for theses patients was proposed for improving hand function, namely the digital injection of adipose tissue derived stem cells. Methods From 2015 to 2017 seven systemic sclerosis patients with an impaired hand function were treated with the aforesaid injections. A medical chart review was performed to collect pre- and postoperative patient specific data. Results Our findings indicated no significant improvement in nailfold capillaroscopic measurements or in the healing of preexisting digital ulcers. Additionally, patients reported a slight worsening in hand function after the treatment. However, we observed a decrease in the modified Rodnan skin score, which measures skin thickness Although previous research has verified the safety and feasibility of this treatment, we found no definitive evidence of its effectiveness. Conclusion Our results suggest that the specific conditions under which this treatment could be beneficial need to be identified through randomized controlled trials involving larger groups of patients. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeuticstudy.