Clinical outcome after intra-articular administration of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells in 33 horses with stifle injury.
Authors: Ferris Dora J, Frisbie David D, Kisiday John D, McIlwraith C Wayne, Hague Brent A, Major Michael D, Schneider Robert K, Zubrod Chad J, Kawcak Christopher E, Goodrich Laurie R
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Stifle Injuries and Bone Marrow Stem Cell Treatment in Horses Horses presenting with stifle lameness due to meniscal, cartilage or ligamentous damage often face guarded prognoses, particularly when arthroscopic surgery alone is the only intervention; this prospective case series evaluated whether supplementing surgical repair with autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) could improve functional outcomes. Thirty-three horses underwent diagnostic stifle arthroscopy and surgical treatment for their specific lesions, followed by intra-articular BMSC injection, with follow-up data gathered over a mean of 24 months through veterinary records and owner/trainer feedback. The results showed that 43% of horses returned to their previous level of work and a further 33% returned to some level of work, whereas 24% did not return to ridden work; notably, in the 24 horses with meniscal damage specifically, 75% achieved some return to work—a statistically significant improvement over the 60–63% success rates reported in previous studies using arthroscopy alone (P = 0.038). Joint flare occurred in only 3 horses (9%) post-injection with no lasting complications, demonstrating a favourable safety profile comparable to other biologic therapies. For equine practitioners managing stifle injuries, particularly those involving meniscal damage, BMSC administration represents a promising adjunctive treatment that may meaningfully improve return-to-work outcomes without significant additional morbidity risk.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Autologous bone marrow stem cell injection after stifle surgery may improve return-to-work rates compared to surgery alone, particularly for meniscal injuries
- •BMSC treatment carries minimal risk with joint flare being transient and mild in most cases
- •Consider BMSC therapy as an adjunctive treatment option for horses with stifle injuries who you want to maximize functional recovery
Key Findings
- •43% of horses returned to previous level of work and 33% returned to work at mean 24-month follow-up
- •75% of horses with meniscal damage returned to some level of work, significantly higher than the 60-63% reported in previous arthroscopy-alone studies (P=0.038)
- •Intra-articular BMSC administration was safe with joint flare post-injection occurring in only 9% of cases and no long-term adverse effects