Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for osteoarthritis

The aim of these studies was to assess the safety of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSCs) implantation in patients with osteoarthritis in the knee, hip or ankle. In knee osteoarthritis patients pain tended to be reduced and walking distance increased and remained so for up to 6 months post-injection. Subsequently, there was an increase in cartilage thickness, extension of the repair tissue over the subchondral bone and a considerable decrease in the size of edematous subchondral patches in treated patients.