The American College of Rheumatology & the Osteoarthritis Foundation currently do not recommend stem cell treatment of the knee for these reasons: 1) there is not a standard protocol for preparing the injection; & 2) there is not enough evidence to prove it works or is safe (see
Just a moment... ). As a research scientist I can tell you the words “safe & effective “ don’t apply here. Too many clinics are broadening the application (note it’s indicated for osteoarthritis, not “general tissue repair”) & are making too specific of success claims. Stem cells themselves are “pluri-potential” & not enough research has been done for this specific application. A paper this year (
Stem cell strategy for repairing joint damage shows promise in pig model | National Institute on Aging) shows “promising results in pigs” but (here’s my thoughts) it appears to be variable. If you’ve got the $$ you can take the gamble, but “results may vary”!!