Orthopaedic surgeons have come out strongly against stem-cell interventions being practised, saying they are of unproven benefit, with an unclear scientific basis, and resulting in “uncontrolled and unethical experimentation on patients”. The nature of these treatments still lacks high-level substantiation, the Association of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons of Malta said in a position paper, claiming “little to no evidence of long-term efficacy, and certainly no lasting long-term structural improvement”. For these reasons, AOTSM, said it could not recommend adult stem cell therapy as a validated treatment option for musculoskeletal conditions. It called for stakeholders, including patient advocacy groups, medical societies and regulatory agencies, to come together to raise awareness, educate physicians and patients and ascertain the differences between rigorously-tested stem cell interventional therapy against the “unproven nebulousness of what are currently research alternatives”. Listing the issues associated with stem cell therapy for orthopaedic conditions, the association mentioned an unknown mechanism of action in most cases, insufficient pre-clinical data, unconfirmed...