Stem cell therapies for treatment of cartilage and bone disorders: osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, and non-union fractures.

The general ease of availability and strong fundamental science of autologous mesenchymal stem cells has prompted increasing application of such biologic therapies to address inherent orthopedic challenges of limited vascularity and ability to self-repair. This article provides a concise review of emerging mesenchymal stem cell applications for bone-related pathologies including cartilage, avascular necrosis, and fractures.