Subchondral bone cyst surgical treatment using the application of stem progenitor cells combined with alginate hydrogel in small joints in horses.

The research examines the use of mesenchymal stem cells with a 3D alginate hydrogel to treat subchondral bone cysts, a common cause of lameness in horses, with strong clinical improvement noted in affected horses following this treatment approach.

Objective of the Research

• The primary aim of this research was to enhance the treatment methods for Subchondral Bone Cysts (SBCs), a significant cause of lameness in horses, particularly young athletic ones.
• The researchers believed that current methods, including pharmacological treatment and surgical procedures, could be enhanced, leading to better restoration and rebuilding of the cystic bone.
• The research proposed a new treatment method that involved filling SBCs with a 3D complex of alginate hydrogel and autologous adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). This method was expected to stimulate osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation, thereby aiding in improved treatment.

Research Methodology

• The researchers began with an in vitro study of the hydrogel/ASC complex, observing an upregulation in indicators relevant to bone tissue development, such as bone morphogenetic protein, osteopontin, collagen type I, and aggrecan mRNA levels.
• They found that the complex promotes the creation of a 3D extracellular matrix (EM).
• To observe the in vivo effects of the procedure, the researchers performed experimental surgeries on eight horses of different ages that suffered from SBCs and evaluated the effects of the procedure on their clinical appearance, lameness, and radiographic appearance.

Findings of the Research

• Results showed significant clinical improvement in 7 out of 8 horses (87.75%) six months post the experimental surgery.
• A year after the surgery, 100% (8 out of 8 horses) demonstrated improvement.
• The results thus indicate the potential of the proposed method of filling SBCs with the alginate hydrogel/ASC complex to become a standard treatment for SBCs.