Musculoskeletal disease is a leading cause of morbidity across the world, associated with pain, immobility, deformities, and in some cases, death. Other factors affecting quality of life include lack of independence, an inability to perform routine tasks, and reduced social interaction. Disease prevalence increases with age and we are living longer. In the coming years, the incidence of disorders affecting the skeleton will rise, causing huge healthcare and socioeconomic burden. Current treatments are typically restricted to pain management followed by end-stage total joint replacement. Cell-based therapies are an appealing biological option in orthopedics, as they may provide long-lasting restoration of skeletal tissue function by exploiting the intrinsic stem cell-like capacity of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to differentiate into bone and cartilage. Here, we review recent data on the use of MSCs in orthopedics, focusing on clinical trials and discussing the advances made as well as the hurdles to overcome.
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