Evaluation of Three Methods of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Treatment of Equine Distal Limb Skin Wounds.
Authors: Pereira Roberta Carneiro da Fontoura, De La Côrte Flávio Desessards, Brass Karin Erica, da Silva Azevedo Marcos, Gallio Miguel, Cantarelli Camila, Dau Stefano Leite, Cezar Alfredo Skrebsky, Inkelmann Maria Andréia
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
Distal limb wounds in horses present a persistent clinical challenge owing to poor vascularisation and prolonged healing times, yet evidence supporting biological enhancement therapies remains limited. Researchers surgically created standardised 4 cm² skin wounds on the third metacarpus of eight horses and treated them with three interventions—autologous PRP injection, autologous PRP gel, and homologous PRP injection—alongside saline controls, monitoring wound closure and obtaining histological samples at 15 and 30 days post-treatment. Autologous PRP in gel formulation accelerated healing by approximately 15 days compared to controls, with histopathological analysis revealing superior neovascularisation and controlled inflammatory responses in gel-treated wounds during the critical early healing phases. Beyond the practical advantage of faster epithelialisation, the gel delivery method appeared to optimise platelet factor bioavailability at the wound site, whilst homologous PRP demonstrated particular merit for systemically compromised horses where autologous preparation may be impractical. For equine practitioners managing chronic distal limb wounds, autologous PRP gel warrants consideration as an evidence-based adjunctive therapy, though cost-benefit analysis and clinical application protocols require further refinement.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Autologous PRP in gel form is the most effective topical application for accelerating distal limb wound healing in horses, reducing healing time by approximately 15 days
- •Homologous PRP offers a practical alternative when autologous PRP cannot be generated quickly, particularly useful in systemically compromised horses
- •Histological evidence supports enhanced tissue remodeling with gel formulation, making it the preferred delivery method for clinical practice
Key Findings
- •Autologous PRP gel treatment reduced healing time by 15 days compared to saline control
- •PRP gel group (GII) showed higher frequency of mild inflammation and mild to moderate neovascularization on histological examination
- •Homologous PRP may be beneficial for animals with compromised hemodynamic conditions
- •All three PRP treatment methods showed clinical efficacy in wound healing acceleration