TITLE:
Single-Center Study of 83 Horses with Suspensory Injuries Treated with Adipose-Derived Stem and Regenerative Cells
AUTHORS:
F. Ross Rich
KEYWORDS:
Suspensory Ligament, Adipose Stem Cells, Autologous Regenerative Therapy
JOURNAL NAME:
Stem Cell Discovery,
Vol.4 No.2,
April
28,
2014
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.