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Stem Cell Treatment for Ligament Repair and Reconstruction

  • Stem Cells in Orthopaedic Surgery (J Dragoo and K Jones, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

With the rapid and ongoing evolution of regenerative and sports medicine, the use of stem/stromal cells in ligament repair and reconstruction continues to be investigated and grow. The purpose of this review was to assess available methods and formulations for stem/stromal cell augmentation as well as review early pre-clinical and clinical outcomes for these recently emerging techniques.

Recent Findings

Recent literature demonstrates promising outcomes of stem/stromal cell augmentation for ligament repair and reconstruction. Multiple groups have published animal models suggesting improved healing for partially transected ligaments as well as histologic re-approximation of native bone-tendon interfaces with the use of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in reconstructive models. Human studies also suggest improved outcomes spanning from higher patient-reported outcome scores to magnetic resonance imaging evidence of ligament healing in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament tears. However, clinical studies are only recently available, relatively few in number, and not necessarily accompanied by standard-of-care controls.

Summary

There is increasing availability and growing animal and clinical evidence demonstrating potential benefit of stem/stromal cell augmentation for tendon healing. However, to date, there is a relative paucity of high-level human evidence for the routine use of stem/stromal cells for ligament repair and reconstruction in the clinical practice. This field contains substantial promise and merits further, ongoing investigation.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Mario Hevesi, Matthew LaPrade, Daniel B. F. Saris & Aaron J. Krych

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  1. Mario Hevesi
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  2. Matthew LaPrade
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Correspondence to Aaron J. Krych.

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Mario Hevesi, Matthew LaPrade, Daniel B. F. Saris, and Aaron J. Krych declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest.

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Any articles contained in this article performed by the authors were performed following Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval, as listed in the respective articles.

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Hevesi, M., LaPrade, M., Saris, D.B.F. et al. Stem Cell Treatment for Ligament Repair and Reconstruction. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 12, 446–450 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-019-09580-4

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