Platelet-rich Plasma and Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Sports Medicine

Regenerative medicine is a fast-growing field in orthopedic sports medicine. Platelet-rich plasma contains multiple factors that have been shown to augment healing, thereby stimulating its use in multiple areas of acute and chronic injuries. Mesenchymal stem cells have pluripotent potential to form into tissues pertinent to orthopedics, such as cartilage and bone. As such, there is been a surge in the research directed toward steering those stem cells into a particular lineage as part of treatment for a variety of soft-tissue, cartilage, and bone pathologies. Overall, there are promising reports of their potential success, but there is a need for continued investigation into the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma and stem cells in sports medicine.