Influence of Platelets Rich Plasma on Repair of Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon Rupture in Donkeys (An Experimental Study)

This study was planned to prospectively evaluate the influence of platelets rich plasma (PRP) on the restoration of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in donkeys. Eighteen apparently clinically healthy male donkeys of 3-6 years old, weighing 150-200 kg, were used. The animals were classified into two equal groups; control group and PRP group. One cm transection of the full thickness of middle portion of the SDFT was made in all animals. First, all animals were subjected to sedation via xylazine HCl injection in a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight then the animals were deeply narcotized with chloral hydrate 10% in a dose of 5 gm/50 kg body weight. A linear skin incision in the palmar aspect of the right fore limb at the mid cannon region was performed in all operated animals. The animals in PRP group were subjected to intratendinous injections of 4 mL PRP with weekly interval (day 0, w1, w2, w3) under the guidance of ultrasonography. Representative tendon specimens from all animals were collected 30, 60, and 90 days post operation (PO) for histopathological examination. The obtained clinical and histopathological results reveled that PRP application improved the healing of SDFT compared to the control group, through increasing and acceleration of angiogenesis, fibrogenesis, collagen deposition and remodeling in the injured tendon matrices