Is there a role for stem cells in treating articular injury?

Articular cartilage is a specialized tissue with a high prevalence of injuries. The complex architecture of articular cartilage means that injuries are difficult to treat. The sequelae of such injuries include post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Current treatments include microfracture, microdrilling, osteochondral transplantation and matrix autologous chondral implantation. However, current surgical therapies have a number of disadvantages. Mesenchymal stem cells have been suggested as a potential alternative therapy, with a theoretical ability to regenerate articular cartilage. Research, although positive, is mainly limited to case series, in which the follow up is short to medium term. Stem cells may hold the answer to the age-old problem of articular cartilage injury but more robust evidence is required.