Breaking Down the Basics: Arthritis in Horses

BREAKING DOWN THE BASICS- ARTHRITIS O IN HORSES HEALTHY JOINTS V Two bones with independent movement Joint capsule between bones and cartilage Keeps bones together Joint fluid in joint capsule Facilitates movement and absorbs shock Cartilage layer at ends of each bone Shock absorber ARTHRITIC JOINTS X Tissue damage or infection occurs White blood cells move into joint area Joint fluid breaks down Joint capsule thickens Cartilage deteriorates Scar tissue develops, decreasing flexibility Inactivity decreases circulation and increases pain COMMON JOINTS AFFECTED SYMPTOMS SWELLING X STIFFNESS LAMENESS HOCK FETLOCK KNEE TREATMENT OPTIONS NONSURGICAL (MUST BE REPEATED) Trimming/ Shoeing Supplements Dietary Changes Cortisone Exercise Injections REGENERATIVE MEDICINE (TREATS THE DAMAGED TISSUE) Stem Cells Most common Removes and processes stem cells from horses and re-injects them • 1-2 general anesthesia procedures for surgical harvesting and injection Interleukin-1 Blood is drawn, incubated, centrifuged, Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP) and injected once every week to week and a half 3 or more treatments are used to inhibit Interleukin-1, an inflammatory mediator Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Horse's blood is concentrated and re-injected • Expectation is that the plasma rich injections should contain some stem cells Bisoscaffolding Tells stem cells that exist in the body how to heal the damaged tissue 1 heavy sedation or light general anesthesia for injection with no surgical harvesting INFOGRAPHIC PROVIDED BY Osteo Bioscaff http://www.osteobioscaff.com/ SOURCES http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-healthvequine-arthritis.aspx http://www.petmd.com/horse/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_hr_arthritist.UPytXaFat-a http://www.totalbondvets.com/site/view/20561_RegenerativeMedicine.pml