Single-Center Study of 83 Horses with Suspensory Injuries Treated with Adipose-Derived Stem and Regenerative Cells

F. Ross Rich

Cave Creek Equine Surgical & Diagnostic Imaging Center, Phoenix, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/scd.2014.42005                

Abstract

Adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs), concentrated from autologous fat tissue, have the ability to differentiate into various specific cell types including tenocytes. In this retrospective study, clinical data are presented from 83 horses with 176 suspensory ligament injuries, treated with ADRCs, given a strictly enforced standardized rehabilitation program, and followed up for at least one year after returning to work. Assessment for a successful outcome was return to full work (RFW) at a previous or higher level of performance for one year or more without re-injury. RFW numbers were 84.6% for horses with fore-limb ligament injuries and 82.1% for horses with hind-limb injuries. RFW outcomes were slightly better in cases with proximal suspensory ligament desmitis (86.7%) compared to horses with lesions of the body and branches. The ADRC injection procedure was well tolerated; no treatment-related adverse events, including injection flares, were detected in any of the 83 horses. The demonstrated long term stability of healed lesions strongly supports the therapeutic use of regenerative cells extracted from adipose tissue for treatment of acute and chronic, fore- and hind-limb suspensory ligament injuries in horses of various athletic sport disciplines.

Keywords

Suspensory Ligament, Adipose Stem Cells, Autologous Regenerative Therapy

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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