The effect of adipose-derived stem cells in healing refractory wounds based on clinical outcomes

Refractory wounds can be a serious threat to the quality of life and survival of patients. Various surgical methods have been attempted; however, they do not cure these refractory wounds; therefore, new and promising treatment methods to improve wound healing and angiogenesis are urgently warranted. Adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells have been clinically used to promote healing. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of SVF cells for the treatment of refractory wounds. Forty patients with refractory wounds were randomly divided into two groups: patients in the experimental group were treated with SVFs (n=20) and those in the control group were given conventional treatment (n=20). The general data of age, sex ratio, wound size, frequency of every caused wound, and etiology were compared between the two groups. No significant difference was found between the two groups (P=0.089). Clinical efficacy was also evaluated between the two groups. The experimental group had a shorter wound healing time and a significantly higher healing rate than the control group (P=0.023 and P=0.035, respectively). Therefore, SVFs may be a new and effective treatment for refractory wounds (P=0.043).