Stem cells application in equine tendon disorders

Data used in this study was collected from the specialized equine clinics in Austria during the practice time in the year of 2017. Part of the information was found in the clinics’ database of registered cases in the year of 2016-2017. The aim of the study was to analyze indications and usage mechanisms of stem cells’ usage in tendon lesions treatment, which cause equine’s lameness, and indicate the influence of stem cells to the processes of regenerating injury tissue. In the course of the study, general and special investigative methods were used to determine the cause of lameness and make diagnosis. Equines, used in this investigation, were various age, breed, sex and attending in different types of equine sports. In this study 8 case-histories of equines which had tendon injuries and were treated with stem cells application, were analyzed. During this study it was detected that the injuries of right front leg’s superficial digital flexor tendon occurred most frequently with the cases of 63% of lame equines and 37% patients had deep digital flexor tendon injuries. Stem cells therapy was used for young horses more often - 75% patients were younger than 15 years old. Stem cells had no influence for injured tendons healing time, it took 26 weeks for superficial digital flexor tendon to regenerate and 32 weeks to heal deep digital flexor tendon injuries. Functional recovery of the horse and echogram analysis shows that the stem cells used to treat tendon lesions help to prevent the formation of scar tissue and promotes the formation of qualitative and functional tendon tissue at the site of the affected tendon