Umbalical cord stem cells can be used for ?

A technique using umbilical cord blood stem cells could be a promising new approach for repairing cleft palate in infants, scientists say.

A major potential advantage of the stem cell procedure is avoiding the need for later bone grafting surgery -- currently the standard technique for closing the cleft. This procedure uses bone taken from elsewhere in the child s body, typically the hip. Bone grafting has potential complications and subjects the child to one or more additional surgeries.

The study is the first to use stem cells as part of primary surgery to repair cleft palate in an infant.t Doctors say that their patient will need further monitoring to ensure adequate bone thickness in the upper jaw.