Implantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells demonstrates improved outcome in horses with overstrain injury of the superficial digital flexor tendon.
Authors: Godwin E E, Young N J, Dudhia J, Beamish I C, Smith R K W
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) implantation has become increasingly popular for treating equine tendon injuries, yet long-term safety and efficacy data remain limited. Godwin and colleagues assessed 141 client-owned racehorses that received intralesional MSC injections for superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injury, following them for a minimum of two years post-return to work, with clinical, ultrasonographic, scintigraphic and histological monitoring. The treatment proved safe with no adverse effects or abnormal tissue formation on histology; notably, the overall reinjury rate was 27.4% (25.7% in National Hunt horses, 50% in flat racers), which compared favourably to published reinjury rates for alternative treatments in similar populations. Factors including age, discipline, cell dose and time between injury and implantation showed no significant correlation with outcome. These findings provide robust evidence that MSC implantation effectively reduces reinjury risk in racehorses with SDFT strain, particularly in jump racing, and suggest the approach warrants consideration as a first-line regenerative therapy for this common injury—though practitioners should note the authors acknowledge limitations inherent in comparing against historical controls rather than concurrent comparisons.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •MSC therapy is a safe treatment option for SDFT tendinopathy in racehorses with long-term follow-up data now available
- •MSC treatment appears superior to other published treatments for National Hunt horses, making it a valuable option for returning racehorses to competition
- •Treatment timing and cell dosage within the ranges used in this study do not significantly affect reinjury outcomes, providing flexibility in clinical application
Key Findings
- •MSC implantation resulted in 27.4% reinjury rate in 113 racehorses followed for minimum 2 years post-treatment
- •National Hunt racehorses showed significantly lower reinjury rate (25.7%) compared to published rates for other treatments
- •No adverse effects or aberrant tissue observed on clinical, ultrasonographic, scintigraphic or histological examination
- •Reinjury rate was not significantly influenced by age, discipline, number of MSCs injected, or interval between injury and treatment