Autologous Cell-Based Therapy for Tendon and Ligament Injuries

Cell-based therapies encompass a growing list of treatment modalities with promising potential for treating tendon and ligament injuries in the horse. To some degree, the availability of these therapies to the equine practitioner has outpaced needed experimental and clinical data necessary to establish efficacy and safety. Client awareness and demands place additional pressure on the equine practitioner to provide education and services including these therapies. Minimally manipulated autologous cell therapies may provide a safer alternative or intermediate to cultured or expanded stem cells until more is learned regarding the in vivo activity of the cells and culture media.