RESEARCH - Stem cell therapy and the future of orthopaedics: an expert interview with Dr. Einhorn

[Guest guest]

Stem Cell Therapy and the Future of Orthopaedics: An Expert Interview

With Dr. Einhorn

Medscape

Published: 23 Apr 2009

Stem cell research has caused much public controversy, sparking debate

on ethics, cost, and legislation. Advocates of stem cell research

believe that the use of adult stem cells holds promise of widespread

applications, especially in the area of orthopaedics.

Pippa Wysong of Medscape sat with A. Einhorn, MD, to discuss

his research on stem cell therapy as it may be applied to the repair

and regeneration of bone and cartilage. Dr. Einhorn is Chairman of the

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Orthopaedic

Surgery, Biochemistry, and Biomedical Engineering at Boston

University, Boston, Massachusetts.

Medscape: There has been a lot of talk in orthopaedics about the use

of stem cells for treatment, such as bone regeneration. Why stem

cells? What's special about them?

Dr. Einhorn: We're referring to the healing and regeneration of tissue

in addition to the development of new tissue to help damaged parts of

bone heal. In general, stem cells are nonspecialized cells that can

divide and turn into other specialized cells, such as bone, brain, or

blood cells. Stem cells are interesting because they have the

potential to enhance healing in conditions in which our ability to do

anything is limited, such as in avascular necrosis (AVN) and

nonhealing nonunion fractures. Also, they have the potential to offer

new types of treatments that are less invasive than some current

approaches to these problems.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/701799

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