Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse lameness improved after dental pulp tissue injections in trial
By Bertone, Alicia L et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2017·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Equine Dental Pulp Connective Tissue Particles Reduced Lameness in Horses in a Controlled Clinical Trial.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A group of 40 lame horses with osteoarthritis or soft tissue injuries received injections of dental pulp tissue particles to see if it would help reduce their lameness. The horses showed significant improvement in their lameness scores and overall comfort within two weeks after the treatment compared to those who received a placebo. The benefits were especially noticeable in horses with soft tissue injuries. After more than two years, many of the horses were still able to work comfortably. This treatment could be a good option for horses suffering from these types of injuries.
People also search for: horse lameness treatment · equine dental pulp therapy · soft tissue injury in horses · osteoarthritis in horses treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess if injection of allogeneic dental pulp tissue particles would improve lameness in horses with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA) or soft tissue (ST) injury. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, blinded, and controlled clinical trial and client survey assessment. ANIMALS: Forty lame client-owned horses. PROCEDURES: Sterile dental pulp, recovered from otherwise healthy foals that perish during dystocia, was processed under good manufacturing processing to produce mechanically manipulated, unexpanded pulp tissue particles containing viable cells surrounded in extracellular matrix. Forty lame client-owned horses with confirmed OA ( = 20), or ST injury (desmitis or tendonitis) received a 2 mL intra-articular ( = 20 OA) or intra-lesional ( = 20) injection of control transport vehicle ( = 20) or 10 × 10dental pulp tissue particles ( = 20). Acclimatized horses had baseline measurements performed and were then injected on day 0. Horses were treadmill exercised for 2 weeks, evaluated by clinical parameters, lameness score, edema (score and circumference), pain on flexion (OA) or pressure (ST), and clients' scores for pain and discomfort before and through 45 days after pulp injection. Twenty horses were available for >2.5-year follow-up. RESULTS: Pulp-treated horses showed decrease in lameness compared to baseline ( < 0.009) or placebo controls ( < 0.013) for at least 2 weeks. Client assessments of comfort were improved between before and 45 days after pulp injection ( < 0.001). Clinical improvement with ST injury was significantly greater than OA ( < 0.001). At >2.5-year follow-up, at least 10 horses were in work. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dental pulp tissue particles can be considered as a treatment option for equine lameness due to OA, desmitis, or tendonitis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28344975/