Contrast administration via ultrasound-guided injection of the cranial tibial artery results in contrast enhancement of the soft tissues of the metatarsus in horses undergoing CT.
Abstract: Delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) via intravascular techniques to treat diffuse and/or inaccessible soft tissue injuries has grown in popularity. The purpose of the current prospective, analytical pilot study was to utilize CT to validate this novel technique and provide additional evidence to support its use for injectate delivery to specific soft tissue structures. Of particular interest was the proximal suspensory ligament, which presents a challenging injection target. Six adult horses without lameness underwent CT of the distal hindlimbs. Scans were obtained prior to ultrasound-guided catheterization of the cranial tibial artery, in addition to early and delayed scans acquired following intra-arterial contrast administration. Region of interest analysis of the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons and suspensory ligament was used to assess contrast enhancement within these structures. Linear mixed models were used to determine statistical significance. Significant (P < 0.05) mean contrast enhancement was seen in all postinjection time points in all soft tissue structures of interest. This indicates that ultrasound-guided injection of the cranial tibial artery results in perfusion of injectate throughout the distal hind limb, including the major soft tissue structures of the metatarsus. This provides further support for this technique as a method of MSC delivery to multifocal or inaccessible injury of these structures, including the proximal suspensory ligament.
© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology.
Publication Date: 2023-07-05 PubMed ID: 37406620DOI: 10.1111/vru.13256Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article is about a study aimed at validating a novel intravascular injection technique for delivering mesenchymal stem cells to treat diffuse and inaccessible injuries in soft tissues of horses, and how CT scans were used to support its effectiveness.
Introduction and Purpose of the Study
- The use of intravascular techniques to deliver mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), which are often used in the treatment of extensive or hard-to-reach soft tissue injuries, has become a common practice. This study was aimed towards validating this new technique and supporting its use for injecting substances into specific soft tissue structures.
- The proximal suspensory ligament in horses, which is a tough injection target, was the structure of particular interest in this study.
Methodology
- Six adult horses, who were not suffering from lameness, underwent CT scans of their distal hindlimbs.
- Scans were captured before and after an ultrasound-guided catheter was inserted into the cranial tibial artery. Additional early and delayed scans were taken following intra-arterial contrast injection.
- Statistical significance was determined through the use of the “region of interest” analysis of the tendons and suspensory ligament, and the use of linear mixed models.
Results and Conclusion
- The findings indicated significant contrast enhancement in all of the post-injection scans in all soft tissue structures of interest.
- This provided evidence that ultrasound-guided injection into the cranial tibial artery leads to an infusion of the delivered substance throughout the distal hind limb, including key soft tissue structures in the horse’s metatarsus.
- Therefore, this research supports the use of this technique as a way to deliver MSC to areas of multifocal or hard-to-reach injury in these structures, including the proximal suspensory ligament.
Cite This Article
APA
Acutt EV, Zhou T, Mama K, Nelson BB, Selberg KT, Barrett MF.
(2023).
Contrast administration via ultrasound-guided injection of the cranial tibial artery results in contrast enhancement of the soft tissues of the metatarsus in horses undergoing CT.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 64(5), 904-912.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13256 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Metatarsus / diagnostic imaging
- Tibial Arteries / diagnostic imaging
- Pilot Projects
- Lameness, Animal
- Horse Diseases
- Ultrasonography, Interventional / veterinary
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Grant Funding
- American College of Veterinary Radiology
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