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Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical evaluation of the effects of extracorporeal shock wave treatment in the hind limbs of horses with experimentally induced suspensory ligament desmitis.
Abstract: To evaluate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on affected ligaments in the hind limbs of horses with experimentally induced suspensory ligament desmitis by use of ultrasonographic, ultrastructural, and immunocytochemical techniques. Methods: 10 horses. Methods: Suspensory ligament desmitis was induced in both hind limbs of each horse by use of 2 collagenase injections (administered 2 weeks apart) in each suspensory ligament. Two weeks after the second injection, the right hind limb of each horse was treated with ESWT (3 treatments at 3-week intervals); the left hind limb was not treated (control limb). Periodically during the study, the healing process was monitored ultrasonographically and the proportions of ligaments affected with lesions were assessed. Four weeks after the last ESWT treatment, biopsy specimens were collected from all ligaments for ultrastructural evaluation and immunocytochemical analysis of transforming growth factor beta-1. Results: The difference in the proportion of the lesion-affected ligament between ESWT-treated and control limbs was significant (P < 0.05) from 3 weeks after the second ESWT treatment to the end of the study. Compared with control ligaments, ESWT-treated ligaments had more small, newly formed collagen fibrils and greater expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 4 weeks after the last ESWT treatment was administered. Conclusions: Results have indicated that ESWT appears to facilitate the healing process in horses with experimentally induced hind limb suspensory ligament desmitis.
Publication Date: 2005-06-07 PubMed ID: 15934618DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.892Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigated the impact of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on the healing process of suspensory ligament damage in horses. The findings showed that ESWT facilitated healing and reduced the size of lesions in damaged ligaments, suggesting its effectiveness as a treatment option.
Study Methodology
- The research was conducted on 10 horses whose suspensory ligament desmitis in the hind limbs had been experimentally induced by two collagenase injections with a two-week gap in between.
- Two weeks after the second injection, the horses received ESWT on their right hind limb, but not on the left (which served as the control).
- The ESWT was administered in three treatments over three-week intervals.
- The healing process of the ligament was monitored periodically using ultrasonography, specifically assessing the proportion of the ligaments with lesions.
- Four weeks after the final ESWT treatment, biopsy specimens were taken from all ligaments for further evaluation and for immunocytochemical analysis of transforming growth factor beta-1, a protein involved in the healing of tissues.
Results of the Study
- Significant differences in the proportion of lesion-affected ligament were observed between the limbs treated with ESWT and the control limbs, starting from three weeks after the second ESWT treatment to the end of the study.
- The ligaments treated with ESWT had a larger number of small, newly formed collagen fibrils, which are essential for tissue healing and repair, compared to the control ligaments.
- The ESWT-treated ligaments also showed greater expression of transforming growth factor beta-1, four weeks after the final ESWT administration, which indicates enhanced tissue healing.
Conclusions
- Based on the observed results, the researchers concluded that ESWT appears to aid the healing processes in horses with experimentally induced hind limb suspensory ligament desmitis.
- Faster healing times and smaller lesion sizes were observed for the limbs treated with ESWT compared to the untreated control limbs.
Cite This Article
APA
Caminoto EH, Alves AL, Amorim RL, Thomassian A, Hussni CA, Nicoletti JL.
(2005).
Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical evaluation of the effects of extracorporeal shock wave treatment in the hind limbs of horses with experimentally induced suspensory ligament desmitis.
Am J Vet Res, 66(5), 892-896.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.892 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- High-Energy Shock Waves / therapeutic use
- Hindlimb
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry
- Inflammation / metabolism
- Inflammation / pathology
- Inflammation / therapy
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Ligaments / metabolism
- Ligaments / ultrastructure
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Toner S, Crosby C. Pro-stride and extracorporeal shockwave therapy as treatment of lateral collateral desmopathy of the proximal interphalangeal joint in a Dutch Warmblood gelding. Can Vet J 2023 Mar;64(3):268-274.
- Boström A, Bergh A, Hyytiäinen H, Asplund K. Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine in Sport and Companion Animals: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 12;12(22).
- MacKay AV, McOnie RC, Riddell LP, Robinson KA. Characterization of the use of shock wave therapy among equine veterinarians. Can Vet J 2020 Sep;61(9):990-993.
- Seabaugh KA, Thoresen M, Giguère S. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Increases Growth Factor Release from Equine Platelet-Rich Plasma In Vitro. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:205.
- Notarnicola A, Moretti B. The biological effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (eswt) on tendon tissue. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J 2012 Jan;2(1):33-7.
- Sun CK, Shao PL, Wang CJ, Yip HK. Study of vascular injuries using endothelial denudation model and the therapeutic application of shock wave: a review. Am J Transl Res 2011 May 15;3(3):259-68.
- Qiu Z, Wang J, Zhang Y, Liu X, Wei C, Ma T. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for equine musculoskeletal disorders: from biological mechanisms to clinical applications. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1719123.
- Jacobs C, Schnabel LV, Redding Horne C, Tufts S, Martin EGM, Love K. Postoperative management following equine orthopedic surgery: a survey of diplomates of the ACVS and ACVSMR. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1708401.
- Katz NB, Fee JP, Nowak AS, Tenforde AS. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Is Associated With Similar Functional Outcomes for Male and Female Runners With Patellar or Quadriceps Tendinopathy: A Pilot Investigation. Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil 2025 Apr;7(2):101024.
- Guest DJ, Birch HL, Thorpe CT. A review of the equine suspensory ligament: Injury prone yet understudied. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1167-1182.
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