With clinical use of stem cells in veterinary orthopedics growing, Nicole S. Amato, DVM, DACVS, offers answers to the question, “What does the current evidence show regarding efficacy?” She discusses terminology, stem cells sources and harvesting and clinical impact.
Amato’s discussion of advantages and disadvantages leads to a conclusion. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSCT) therapies, while promising, are still experimental. Research supporting MSCT in veterinary musculoskeletal disease management is still minimal.
Source: Clinician’s Brief, June 2019. Link.
Clinicians must be aware of the known data and have an open discussion with owners to set realistic expectations and inform them that, although MSCT offers clinical promise, it is largely experimental.