a mini-review on the role of stem cells in orthopedics

Stem cell therapy (sct) has emerged as a promising approach in orthopedic medicine, offering regenerative solutions for bone, cartilage, and tendon injuries. mesenchymal stem cells (mscs), derived from bone marrow aspirate concentrate (bmac) and stromal vascular fraction (svf), promote tissue repair through differentiation, paracrine signaling, and immune modulation. while bone exhibits a natural regenerative capacity, challenges such as critical-sized defects and osteonecrosis necessitate the use of advanced therapies. similarly, the limited self-repair ability of cartilage underscores the need for novel regenerative strategies, particularly in osteoarthritis. despite promising preclinical and early clinical outcomes, the widespread adoption of sct is hindered by regulatory challenges and a lack of large-scale randomized controlled trials (rcts). this review explores the sources, mechanisms, and clinical applications of stem cells in orthopedics, highlighting their potential and the challenges that must be addressed for clinical translation.