Table 14 Summary of the published clinical studies

 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]

  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]

  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]

  Collagen

6 (21%)

[103, 113, 118, 122, 124, 126, 129]

  Ascorbic acid-mediated sheet

2 (7%)

[120, 123]

  Fibrin glue

1 (4%)

[125]

 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]

 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]

 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]

 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]

 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]