Stem cells can be given as injections in addition to standard orthopedic treatment, at best, to help relieve pain and to improve the patient's quality of life. Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Current osteoarthritis treatments are predominantly bone-resorbing drugs that are associated with several side effects. The use of stem cells for tissue regeneration has raised great hope in various fields of medicine, including musculoskeletal disorders. Stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis
could potentially reduce the susceptibility of fractures and augment lost mineral density by either increasing the numbers or restoring the function of resident stem cells that can proliferate and differentiate into bone-forming cells. Such osteoarthritis therapies can be carried out by exogenous introduction of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), typically procured from bone marrow, adipose, and umbilical cord blood tissues or through treatments with drugs or small molecules that recruit endogenous stem cells to sites.
There are 3 main types of stem cells:
- Adult stem cells are found in bone marrow, fat, blood, joints, and many other tissues. These stem cells are also called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
- Induced adult stem cells are made from skin cells to become adult stem cells.
- Embryonic stem cells are found in embryos These are not used in the treatment of osteoarthritis.