Liposuction aspirate fluid-ASCs injection and secondary healing in fingertip injury, a pilot study

BACKGROUND Although fingertip injuries account for a high proportion of trauma patients, the correct surgical approach is still debated. This prospective study compares the traditional conservative approach and a new treatment based on the injection of liposuction aspirate fluid (LAF). METHODS 40 consecutive patients with a fingertip injury were dichotomized into group A (control group: conservative approach) and B (treatment group). Group B underwent liposuction, followed by filtration of the lipoaspirate in a closed device (MyStemEvo®kit), allowing the nonenzymatic separation of LAF, which was then injected at injured site. Objective outcomes were time for healing, strength, mobility of joint, touch and sensory function. Subjective outcomes were cold intolerance, pain, hand disability and aesthetic result. An aliquot of LAF was sent to the laboratory for cellular isolation and analysis by flow cytometry and in vitro differentiation assays. RESULTS The average number of days for healing was 22,3 days in group B and 24,9 in group A (p<0,05). The 85% of the patients of group B and the 67% of group A scored normal to diminished superficial sensibility (p<0,05). Group A pointed higher pain and cold intolerance scores (p<0,05). The treatment group scored greater aesthetic and disabilities outcome results (p<0,05). The yield of cell isolation was 8,3·105/ml, with a percentage of viable cells of 74,3%. Flow cytometry allowed identifying a mesenchymal immunophenotype, and in vitro osteogenic and adipogenic induction confirmed the bilinear potential of the isolated cells. CONCLUSION This clinical study demonstrates for the first time the regenerative potential of LAF-ASCs in a clinical application.