Platelet-rich Plasma Combined With a Sterile 3D Polylactic Acid Scaffold for Postoperative Management of Complete Hoof Wall Resection for Keratoma in Four Horses.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: PRP and Scaffold for Post-Keratoma Hoof Wall Reconstruction Keratoma removal necessitates complete hoof wall resection, leaving a substantial defect that challenges tissue regeneration and functional recovery. Four horses underwent this procedure followed by a novel treatment protocol combining platelet-rich plasma (PRP) applied serially over 18 days with a sterile three-dimensional polylactic acid scaffold to support healing. Healthy granulation tissue established itself within 6–21 days postoperatively, with complete hoof wall regeneration achieved in 6–8 months across all cases. All horses returned to pre-operative exercise levels without lameness recurrence, suggesting that the combined PRP-scaffold approach meaningfully accelerated tissue repair compared to historical norms for these typically protracted cases. Whilst the small sample size limits definitive conclusions, these results warrant further investigation into how biological augmentation and structural support can improve outcomes in catastrophic foot injuries and defects encountered in equine practice.

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Key Findings

• •PRP combined with 3D polylactic acid scaffold promoted healthy granulation tissue development within 6-21 days postoperatively
• •Complete hoof wall regeneration occurred within 6-8 months after surgery in all four cases
• •All horses returned to previous exercise levels with no recurrence of lameness or keratoma

Conditions Studied

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