Joint And Tendon Treatments
irap™
Fetlock Xray
irap™ is the latest therapy for damaged joints and we are now able to offer it at AVP. irap™ therapy involves the treatment of lameness utilising the body’s own healing mechanisms.
Blood is taken from the horse and incubated with special glass beads that promote the production of regenerative and anti-inflammatory proteins by the white cells in the blood. The sample is centrifuged and the serum containing these proteins is harvested. This serum is injected into the affected joint.
The serum is divided into 3ml doses and each sample typically provides enough serum for 6 to 7 treatments. These treatments are stored frozen for future use. It is important to note that the serum can only be used on that horse from which it was collected.
Typically the full therapeutic effect is noted after the joint has been medicated three times with irap™. The profound anti-inflammatory effect seen comes with none of the side effects of drug based treatments and is not swabbable as it is made from the body’s own proteins.
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)
Platelet-Rich Plasma
Tendon and ligament injuries are a common cause of lameness in horses. Traditionally, a horse with a tendon or ligament injury would require 6 to 12 months rehabilitation with no certain prognosis. PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) is a revolutionary new therapy for the treatment of these injuries.
PRP is the result of processing whole blood from the lame horse to extract platelet rich plasma. This plasma is then injected into core lesions in tendons to promote healing. The process enhances both the formation of new blood vessels and new connective tissue.
Injection of PRP is recommended for both recent tendon and ligament injuries and those injuries that have not healed following rest and controlled exercise.
The procedure is done in the standing horse under sedation and with a local nerve block. In most cases, a single PRP injection is needed. To date, treatment has resulted in rapid healing of previously static lesions and return to soundness and function.
Stem Cell Therapy
Core lesion ultrasound
Stem cells are the body’s repair mechanism for damaged or diseased tissue. They have the ability to generate a range of specialised cell types and so can be used in the treatment of tendon injuries.
A sample of bone marrow is extracted from the sternum of the injured horse and is sent to an external laboratory for processing. Stem cells are extracted from the bone marrow and multiplied before being sent back to the practice. These stem cells are injected into the lesion in the tendon where they differentiate into tendon cells and aid greatly in the healing of the injury.