Regenerative medicine for the treatment of Teno-desmic injuries of the equine. A series of 150 horses treated with platelet-derived growth factors

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and the clinical outcome of platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of teno-desmic injures in competition horses.

Patients and methods: From January 2009 to December 2011, 150 sport horses suffering from teno-desmic injuries were treated with no-gelled platelet-concentrate.

Results: No horse showed any major adverse reaction as a result of the procedure. Full healing was obtained for 81% of the horses. Twelve percent had clinical improvement and only 7% a failure. Eight percent of cases of relapse were observed. No statistically significant correlation existed between clinical outcome and the area of the lesion. A statistically significant correlation existed between the clinical outcome and the age of the horse.

Conclusion: Treatment with platelet-derived growth factors leads to the formation of a tendon with normal morphology and functionality, which translate in the resumption of the agonistic activity for the horses we treated.

Keywords: Regenerative medicine; platelet; platelet-concentrate; regenerative surgery; teno-desmic injuries; tissue regeneration.