Editorial Commentary: Exosomes—A New Word in the Orthopaedic Vocabulary?

As our vocabulary grows to include exotic terms promising treatment options for osteoarthritis and cartilage treatment, our adherence to the scientific method and quest for unbiased data remain critical. Only by following this path will biologics like exosomes remain more than theoretical comets of hope. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that are released from all body cells. In orthopaedics, exosomes may be part of cell-to-cell communication systems mediating osteoarthritis, fracture healing, and cartilage repair. Recent research has combined mesenchymal stem cell exosomes and hyaluronic acid in a rabbit cartilage repair model. Currently, there are limitations in the translation of these methods into human trials.