Postmeniscectomy Meniscus Growth With Stem Cells: Where Are We Now?

Arthroscopic meniscal repair and debridement are some of the most common procedures performed in the field of orthopedic surgery. Further, recent research has suggested poor long-term outcomes for patients with meniscectomies with increased incidence of osteoarthritis, leaving a need to develop technology to regenerate meniscal tissue following meniscectomy. Mesenchymal stem cells, are cells that can be harvested from multiple organs and retain the ability to differentiate into a variety of tissues, including osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondroblasts. They have been shown to stimulate the regeneration of meniscal tissue in several animal models and recently in humans, as well. This study reviews the current research and clinical data regarding mesenchymal stem cells, specifically with regard to postmeniscectomy meniscus growth with stem cells.