Key Points

• As a source, marrow derived stem cells are the best characterized, extensively studied progenitor cell populations (Smith 2008)
• A randomized, blinded, placebo controlled study on intra-articular administration of expanded stem cells in a goat total medial meniscectomy model demonstrated Regeneration of menisci in 7/9 cases (Murphy et al 2003).
• Long term follow-up (average 21 months) of a prospective multicenter trial on bone marrow derived stem cell administrations in horses showed the following (Ferris et al 2009):
  • 85% treated for tendon or ligament injuries returned to work (n=61)
    • 51% returned to or exceeded their previous level of work without the need for additional treatment
    • 34% returned to work but at a lesser level
  • 76% treated via intrasynovial administration returned to work. (n=39)
    • 38% returned or exceeded their prior level of work
    • 38% returned to work, but at a lesser level
• Study on SDFT re-injury rates in national hunt horses treated without stem cells showed 56% re-injured within 24 months (Dyson 2004).
  • A second study of SDFT injured horses treated with marrow derived stem cells reported only 24% reinjured (Fortier, Smith 2008)
• An Italian study in race horses showed that 9 out of 11 stem cell treated animals were back to racing with good to optimal results at 12 months. (Pacini et al 2007)
  • Of control horses, 100% had re-injured over the same time period.
• Peer reviewed studies evaluating the ability of adipose-derived stem cells to regenerate neomeniscal tissues are lacking (Frisbie, Smith 2010).