PRP therapy harnesses the horse’s natural healing process by delivering a concentrated dose of platelets to an injury site. These platelets, the smallest blood cells, play a crucial role in clotting and tissue repair, acting as first responders to injury.
The therapy involves drawing the horse’s blood and processing it in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets while removing red and white blood cells. Using ultrasound guidance, the resulting platelet-rich plasma is then injected directly into the lesion or surrounding tissue to enhance healing.
PRP therapy increases the presence of growth factors at the injury site, stimulating tissue regeneration and repair. Studies suggest it can be a valuable treatment for tendon injuries, suspensory desmitis, and experimentally induced lesions of the superficial digital flexor tendon.
By accelerating the healing process, PRP therapy may help horses recover more efficiently, reducing downtime and improving long-term performance.
The most common applications for Regenerative Therapies in horses are currently soft tissue injuries (tendons and ligaments) and joints. With intravascular (especially intra-arterial) application techniques of stem cells, the treatment of laminitis and more inaccessible soft tissue injuries, such as those within the hoof, have become possible.
We are firm believers in minimalizing invasive treatment where applicable. Dr. Vidal and Dr. Aristizabal are pioneers in equine stem cell research and administration, and there are thousands of success stories regarding the anti-inflammatory effects and accelerated healing provided by stem cell therapy.
