BACKGROUND: The research field of stem cell-based therapies in orthopaedics has witnessed significant growth in the recent past. We aimed to identify and analyze the bibliometric characteristics of the global highly cited papers (HCPs) in stem cell research in orthopaedics. METHODS: This study relied on secondary data extracted from Scopus, Elsevier's abstract and citation database. An advanced search string was employed, for the period from 1995 to 2020. For each paper, the extracted information included the number of citations, title, authors (name, number, authorship position, and country), year of publication, title of the journals, study design, and thematic field. The VOSviewer (1.6.20) was used to uncover relationships between authors, institutions, keywords, and publications. RESULTS: There were a total of 1427 publications and out of these 186 papers had 100 or more citations (range 100-2644) and were considered as HCPs. The average citation per paper (CPP) was 265.8. Only 4% of the top HCPs contributed 20% of the total citations of all HCPs. All the HCPs were published from high-income countries, and the USA was the leading country in all aspects of publication on stem cell research. Méndez-Ferrer S registered the highest citation ( = 2644), Prockop DJ was the most prolific author ( = 8 papers), and Harvard Medical School, USA emerged as the most prolific organization with 12 HCPs. CONCLUSION: Global research in stem cell therapies for orthopaedic problems is making strides, and is an emerging field of research. Stem cell research offers the potential for improved treatment outcomes for various musculoskeletal conditions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-024-01160-0.