Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis: reparative pathways, safety and efficacy – a review

Table 1 Summary of regenerative techniques

Technique	Indication	Outcome	Level of evidence	Ref
Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation	Isolated chondral defects	Benefits - can result in hyaline like cartilage formation - observed pain and functional improvement Limitations - donor site morbidity - poor integration with surrounding tissue - may result in fibrocartilage formation	Level II-V	[82–90]
MIcrofracture	Isolated chondral defects	Benefits - single stage surgical technique - observed pain and functional improvement Limitations - fibrocartilage formation - inadequate defect filling - poor long term outcome	Level I-V	[92–96]
Mosaicplasty	Isolated osteochondral defects	Benefits - use in deep osteochondral defects Limitations - graft resorption - donor site morbidity - poor long term outcome	Level II-V	[98–100]
MSC Scaffold Transplantation	Isolated chondral defects	Benefits - hyaline like cartilage repair - nil donor site morbidity - observed pain and functional improvement Limitations - potential chondrocyte hypertrophy	Level II- V	[108–111]
MSC Injectable Techniques	Isolated chondral defects Osteoarthritis	Benefits - use in generalized arthritis - relatively simple application - observed pain and functional improvement Limitations - limited evidence of efficacy - inconsistent observation of disease modification	Level II-V	[117–128]

ISSN: 1471-2474