Veterinary session

Authors pioneered a nouvelle equine orthopedic procedure in Hungary. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of platelet rich plasma („PRP”), an autologous product, on tendon injuries. Between the dates of 04/2012 – 08/2012, 60 horses were enrolled in the study.

The PRP is obtained from the venous blood of the horse to be treated, drawn by sterile technique from the jugular vein.The blood is centrifuged for 4 minutes at 1500 spin/min.

The plasma is then separated from the red blood cell mass. The injured tendon segment is carefully cleaned, then 3-5 ml of the platelet rich plasma is injected into the lesion under ultrasound guidance.

The most common injury was that of the superficial digital flexor tendon. The interosseus medius tendon was injured in 28.3 % of the cases, and when it was the injury it mainly involved the proximal part of the tendon („desmitis”). The accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon was injured in 6.7 % of the cases. The extent of the tendon defects was between 10-50 % of the length of the tendon.

In our study we could successfully follow up 47 of the 60 horses (78,3 %), all of them were race horses. 41 of the 47 were returned to competition (87,2 %), 5 of these (10,6 %) got reinjured within 6 months. 8 (17,02 %) were returned to lower race level than previously. However, 28 horses (59,6 %) competed at the original level. We have no follow up data of 13 horses (21,7 %). The follow up data were obtained by telephone questionnaires of the owners at 6 month intervals.

We concluded that treatment of tendon injuries with PRP is one of the most promising ones among currently available treatment modalities.