Opinion: Patient reported motivations for seeking stem cell therapy and considerations for counseling

Stem cell therapies occupy a unique place in the American public's consciousness which has led to excessive enthusiasm over their potential to cure orthopedic conditions. Much has been written about direct-to-consumer marketing of cell therapies for a myriad of medical conditions. Far less has been studied on the attitudes that drive many patients to seek stem cell and orthobiologic therapies for musculoskeletal conditions. Previously published research on patient motivations for seeking stem cell therapy to treat orthopedic maladies such as osteoarthritis and chronic tendinopathies has shown that some patients were motivated by factors not supported by current medical evidence. These differing responses strongly suggest the need for patient-centered counseling to address misinformation about stem cell therapies for musculoskeletal conditions and increase health literacy about outcomes of orthobiologics.