Intralesional injection of insulin-like growth factor-I for treatment of superficial digital flexor tendonitis in Thoroughbred racehorses: 40 cases (2000-2004).
Abstract: OBJECTIVE-To evaluate outcome after intralesional injection of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) for treatment of superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis in Thoroughbred racehorses. DESIGN-Retrospective case series. ANIMALS-40 Thoroughbred racehorses. PROCEDURES-Medical records of racehorses with SDF tendonitis treated within 13 weeks after injury by intralesional injection of IGF-I (25 or 50 μg every other day for 4 or 5 treatments) were reviewed. Outcome was determined via analysis of race records, owner follow-up, and examination. RESULTS-Mean age of the horses was 3.1 years (range, 2 to 7 years), and time from injury to treatment ranged from 8 to 90 days. Mean ± SD approximate lesion length on admission was 15.6 ± 6.0 cm, and mean percentage cross-sectional area of the tendon affected was 26 ± 18%. Twenty-six of the 40 horses underwent desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the SDF tendon. Echolucency was reduced in 23 of 26 horses by the end of the treatment period. Twenty-one of 34 (62%) horses for which race data were available raced at least once after treatment, including 10 (30%) horses that raced between 1 and 4 times and 11 horses (32%) that raced ≥ 5 times. Thirteen of 28 (46%) horses had a recurrence of tendonitis or developed tendonitis elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Results suggested that in Thoroughbred racehorses with SDF tendonitis, intralesional injection of IGF-I led to a decrease in ultrasonographic lesion severity, but treated horses had only a moderate prognosis for return to racing.
Publication Date: 2011-10-04 PubMed ID: 21961641DOI: 10.2460/javma.239.7.992Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study evaluates the effectiveness of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) injected directly into the lesion site as a treatment for superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis in Thoroughbred racehorses. The results suggest that while this treatment leads to a decrease in the severity of the tendon injuries on ultrasound, the prognosis for these horses returning to racing was only moderate.
Study Design and Participants
- The research was a retrospective case series involving 40 Thoroughbred racehorses suffering from SDF tendonitis.
- The horses were treated within 13 weeks after injury using intralesional injections of IGF-I.
- The dosage of IGF-I was either 25 or 50μg, administered every other day for 4 or 5 treatments.
- The horses’ medical records were reviewed and outcomes were determined by analyzing their racing records, getting feedback from owners, and conducting examinations.
Results
- The average age of the participating horses was 3.1 years, while the period from injury to treatment varied from 8 to 90 days.
- The average lesion length at admission was approximately 15.6 cm, with the average percentage cross-sectional area of the affected tendon being 26%.
- 26 out of the 40 horses underwent a surgical procedure called desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the SDF tendon.
- The condition of the injury, as seen on an ultrasound (echolucency), improved in 23 of the 26 horses by the end of their treatment.
- 21 out of 34 horses, where race data was accessible, were able to race at least once after the treatment. This included 10 horses that raced between 1 and 4 times, and 11 horses that raced for at least 5 times.
- 13 out of 28 horses suffered a recurrence of tendonitis or developed tendonitis in another location.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
- The results suggest that the use of IGF-I injections in horses suffering from SDF tendonitis resulted in an ultrasound-detectable improvement in the condition of the tendon.
- Despite this, the future outlook for these treated horses to return to racing was only moderate, which suggests that while the treatment may assist in recovery, it does not guarantee a successful return to racing.
Cite This Article
APA
Witte TH, Yeager AE, Nixon AJ.
(2011).
Intralesional injection of insulin-like growth factor-I for treatment of superficial digital flexor tendonitis in Thoroughbred racehorses: 40 cases (2000-2004).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 239(7), 992-997.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.239.7.992 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Comparative Orthopaedics Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Injections, Intralesional
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / administration & dosage
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / therapeutic use
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Tendinopathy / drug therapy
- Tendinopathy / veterinary
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
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