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The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice2018; 34(2); 359-373; doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2018.04.012

Regenerative Medicine and Rehabilitation for Tendinous and Ligamentous Injuries in Sport Horses.

Abstract: Tendon and ligament injuries are a common source of lameness in the athletic horse. Although tendons and ligaments have the ability to spontaneously heal, lesions tend to fill with biomechanically inferior fibrous tissue such that the horse is prone to reinjury. Regenerative medicine is used to improve quality of repair tissue and prevent reinjury. Platelet-rich plasma, stem cells, and autologous conditioned serum are the most commonly used orthobiologics in the horse. A tailored rehabilitation program is key to returning horses to athleticism following injury. The specifics of regenerative medicine and rehabilitation for tendonitis and desmitis in the horse are discussed.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2018-05-24 PubMed ID: 29803299DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2018.04.012Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research study reviews the use of regenerative medicine techniques and rehabilitation treatment plans for sports horses that experience common tendon and ligament injuries. The aim is to improve injury recovery quality and prevent recurrent injuries using treatments like platelet-rich plasma, stem cells, and autologous conditioned serum.

Tendon and Ligament Injuries in Sport Horses

  • Injuries to tendons and ligaments are cited as a significant cause of lameness in athletic horses. These structures play critical roles in the mobility and athletic performance of the horse, hence, their damage significantly impairs these activities.
  • Although natural healing processes do occur, the study points out that repair tissue often lacks sufficient biomechanical quality, which exaggerates the risk of recurrent injuries for the horses. The lesions tend to fill with inferior fibrous tissue during the healing process, making the area prone to reinjury.

Regenerative Medicine Intervention

  • The study highlights regenerative medicine as a useful intervention in improving the quality of repair tissue and reducing the risk of reinjury. This field of medicine aims to restore the function of damaged tissues by catalyzing the body’s own repair mechanism or by using engineered tissues and organs as treatment.
  • Specifically, three types of orthobiologics are commonly utilized in treating horses: platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cells, and autologous conditioned serum (ACS). These are substances found in the body that can help injuries heal more quickly. They promote the recovery process through different mechanisms such as promoting cell proliferation, differentiation, and regeneration.

Rehabilitation Post-Injury

  • Alongside regenerative medicine, an effective rehabilitation program is essential for a horse’s full recovery and return to athletic activities. The study states that a tailored program is necessary, recognizing the individual differences among horses and varied levels of injuries.
  • The program would commonly involve physiotherapy strategies to restore functionality, remedies to manage pain and inflammation, and in some cases restructuring of the training regime to prevent reinjury.

Tendonitis and Desmitis Treatment

  • The study specifically discusses the application of regenerative medicine and rehabilitation for tendonitis and desmitis, common issues in sport horses. Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon, while desmitis is inflammation of a ligament. The study emphasizes that treatment for these conditions should enhance the healing process, restore function, and prevent reinjury.

Cite This Article

APA
Ortved KF. (2018). Regenerative Medicine and Rehabilitation for Tendinous and Ligamentous Injuries in Sport Horses. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 34(2), 359-373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2018.04.012

Publication

The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
ISSN: 1558-4224
NlmUniqueID: 8511904
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 2
Pages: 359-373

Researcher Affiliations

Ortved, Kyla F
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA. Electronic address: kortved@vet.upenn.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses / injuries
  • Ligaments / injuries
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Sports
  • Tendinopathy / therapy
  • Tendinopathy / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 22 times.
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