Has stem cell technology resulted in any improvements in osteoarthritis treatment?

I've heard of some experiments using the Stem-Cell method, but you have obviously read up more than I have. I live in Massachusetts, USA, we have genetic research companies here, but I don't know if stem-cell research is done also. For a long time, and I'm not sure if this is still the case, it was forbidden by the courts, to do ANY type of Stem-Cell research... it was hailed by the Right-To-Lifers as possibly killing infants, by taking their much-needed growth source.