Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in veterinary orthopaedics: Evidence from canine clinical medicine

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is a promising approach for treating orthopaedic conditions in veterinary clinical patients. MSCs exhibit remarkable regenerative properties, including multilineage differentiation, immunomodulation, and tissue repair, making them an attractive alternative to conventional therapies. This comprehensive review explores the clinical potential of MSCs in managing a range of canine orthopaedic disorders, including fractures, degenerative joint diseases, and tendon injuries. Evidence from canine clinical studies highlights the ability of MSCs to enhance tissue healing, reduce pain, and restore function, offering valuable insights into their therapeutic utility. Optimizing delivery methods, such as intra-articular injections and scaffold-based approaches, is critical for maximizing therapeutic efficacy. Clinical trials in dogs have shown significant improvements in mobility and recovery, underscoring the relevance of MSC therapy for specific orthopaedic applications. Despite its potential, MSC therapy faces several challenges. One major hurdle is study heterogeneity, which complicates evidence synthesis. Differences in cell sourcing, dosage, and injection frequency make it difficult to establish a consensus on optimal treatment protocols. Future advancements should focus on expanding cell-free approaches utilizing MSC-derived bioactive molecules and extracellular vesicles. Furthermore, collaborative efforts between veterinarians, researchers, and industry partners will be critical in translating preclinical findings into viable commercial veterinary stem cell products. Large-scale, randomized clinical trials with standardized methodologies are necessary to validate the efficacy of MSC therapy across different orthopaedic conditions.