Orthopaedic tissue engineering and stem cells -an unfulfilled promise

Despite being over thirty years since there was proof that the hypothetical osteogenic stem cell existed,1 demonstration of any dramatic value for the use of such cells in orthopaedic clinical practice by tissue engineering approaches has not yet been realised.This is notwithstanding extensive studies concerning the likely nature and potentials of these cells in countless in vitro and in vivo investigations.In part,this is based on the confusion caused by exaggeration of claims by unreliable,or at best naïve,investigators and opportunistic entrepreneurs who have grossly misinterpreted data from many ill-conceived studies.2,3 This pseudo-science has been harmful,especially to the stem cell field,both academically and commercially.