Suspensory ligament branch desmitis treated with mesenchymal stem cells

The lack of controls makes evaluation difficult however, a 71% return to racing for over 2 years seems like a pretty good record to me.
DrO

Racing performance of Thoroughbred racehorses with suspensory ligament branch desmitis treated with mesenchymal stem cells (2010-2019)
Equine Vet J. 2023 Aug 3. doi: 10.1111/evj.13980. Online ahead of print.
Authors
Stefanie H Hansen 1 , Lawrence R Bramlage 2 , George E Moore 3
Affiliations

1 Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
2 Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
3 Department of Veterinary Administration, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

PMID: 37534804
DOI: 10.1111/evj.13980

Abstract
in English, German

Background: Suspensory ligament branch desmitis (SLBD) is a common injury in Thoroughbred racehorses. Orthobiologic treatment of these injuries is a relatively new approach, and there is limited information available on post injury racing performance in racehorses treated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Objectives: To assess racing performance post injury in Thoroughbred racehorses with SLBD treated with MSCs.

Study design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Medical records of racehorses with SLBD treated with MSCs from 2010 to 2019 were reviewed. All horses were treated with allogeneic stem cells injected locally at the time of diagnosis and subsequently received 3-4 treatments with autologous bone-marrow derived MSCs. Ultrasonographic and radiographic images were evaluated to determine the degree of suspensory branch injury and sesamoiditis of the associated proximal sesamoid bone. Race performance was assessed by career length, class of races, number of starts and earnings post injury. Race performance of horses that raced pre and post injury were compared.

Results: Of 69 treated horses, 71% (49/69) [95% CI: 59%-81%] raced post injury. Horses that had raced pre injury were more likely to race post injury (90% [18/20]) than horses that did not race pre injury (63% [31/49]; p = 0.03). Females were less likely to race post injury than males (52% [11/21] vs. 79% [38/49], respectively; p = 0.02). In the 18 horses that raced pre and post injury, the number of races, earnings and earnings per start were not significantly different pre and post injury. The average career length of all horses that raced post injury was 29.5 months.

Main limitations: Retrospective study design and lack of controls.

Conclusions: Treatment with MSCs resulted in a majority of Thoroughbred racehorses with SLBD racing post treatment. Racing pre injury and being male was positively associated with racing post injury.