A problem with tendon and ligament injuries in sport horses is the formation of scar tissue in the area of injury during the healing process. Such scar tissue does not tolerate stress in the manner of healthy tissue, and can be easily re-injured. TendoStem® is a treatment based on stem cell technology to repair equine tendon and suspensory ligament injury. The aim of the treatment is that the horse can successfully continue its career in training and competition.
Stem cells are cells that are still undifferentiated and can renew themselves: for example, cells isolated from fat can differentiate into tendon and cartilage cells, among others. In TendoStem® treatment, stem cells grown from the horse's own fat tissue differentiate into tendon cells, forming tendon tissue in the injured area. The end result of the treatment is a durable and flexible structure resembling normal tendon tissue.
The best end result is achieved if the stem cell treatment is given as soon as possible after the damage has occurred, within a few weeks before significant scar tissue formation. In certain cases, the treatment can also be applied to an old tendon injury. On average, rehabilitation of the horse takes 6-12 months. The prognosis for healing is very good. Please ask your clinic for specific pricing details. Also remember to check whether your insurance company compensates for stem cell treatment.