Taking my horse for PRP tomorrow

Birker2020

Birker2020

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Positive vibes please! I'm taking my horse to the vets tomorrow in the hope that the procedure known as PRP (platelet rich plasma) will help heal his suspensory ligament. This is known to aid healing by applying platelets into the ligament using the patients own blood which is placed into a centrifuge and the protein rich platelets are then injected back into the tendon area of the horse thus improving and speeding up healing. The platelets have to be five time richer than before in order to be called platelet rich. I was initially very much in two minds whether to have this done or not as I believe the horse could become sound eventually with patience and time, plus the fact I really didn't want him on box rest due to being colic prone and other issues. However I also began to realise that at the age of 14 and with my claim running out in June next year it would be in Bailey's interests to fling everything at him whilst I had the money to do so, to give him the best chance of a successful outcome.

Then he has to stay on box rest for a week and be led out twice daily in hand during this time. Then I believe its a gradual (gradual being the operative word) slide back into work.

This was the last video we took of him around 16th October. As you can see he is still over compensating on the right fore hence the very slight hopping motion as the injury is the lateral branch suspensory ligament near fore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U93TkaYep0&feature=related

Since then he's had his trot work increased and is walking out every other day under saddle on hacks for an hour - hour and a quarter and ridden in the school the other days for approx 20-30 mins with 1-2/8ths trot work.
 
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Stencilface said:
Good luck - have fingers crossed for you! :)
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Thank you. For some reason this post and my other posts about wanting info about PRP didn't illicit a response. Either people aren't interested :D or don't have any experience of this type of treatment. :confused:

Maybe its in its early days yet. Or maybe I am a boring old f**t droning on about it ;):D:D:D
 
Ah, veterinary is always quiet, and you only have boring old farts like me replying as their horses have the same thing wrong. There are plenty of PSD bores on here! ;)

I don't think PRP would be good for mine as his injury in chronic, and rehab is going well so far, but insurance runs out in April, so would be good to know results in case! :)
 
Ah good luck for the PRP procedure. Hope it works for you and your horse is better soon.
I have never heard of this procedure before so would like to know how you get on. x
 
Hector had PRP for a front suspensory mid Sept. He had 10 days box rest followed by very limited turnout, slowly increasing. He is still in a smallish flat paddock. He has very minor damage, leg scan viewed alone looks OK, just a bit thicker and a slight shadow compared to the other leg.

He will be re scanned mid Dec and will then hopefully return to work, hoping to resume his dressage carrer Easter time.

I think of the treatment as 'poor mans stem cell'

There is quite a lot of it done in USA, it's the new cure all for human sports injuries so has had some bad press as well as very good results in race horses.
 
Just seen this so fingers crossed for you. It is not something I have heard of before but it is always good to hear of new hope.
Really sending some good (((vibes))) for you.
 
Good luck applecart. My horse was treated with PRP (or ePET- the alternative name) back in August, so I'm another boring one always checking to see if I can find any info - and there was nothing I could find on H&H forums either.
My horse has now been through the treatment, one week complete box rest (plus v limited in hand grazing), 3 weeks of increasing walking in hand (plus box rest, with in hand grazing), and we are now working our way through 8 weeks of ridden exercise at walk (which I'm extending to 10 weeks). Part way through, he also went back to restricted turnout.
He had a re-scan before I started the ridden walking exercise and the results looked promising. Next scan - end Nov, before we can hopefully start limited trotting.
It seems like such a long time ago now that he was treated, and I so desperately want my horse to get better that I dont want to take any risks or short cuts. But, his recovery exercise plan is slow and progressive, and has been a challenge in itself!
And the good news - 2 horses at my yard have previously had this treatment and are fully recovered, so please stay optimistic.
 
Hi guys, thanks for all your good wishes and vibes. Bailey has the PRP yesterday. They firstly sedated him, then nerve blocked the area (as it would be painful to insert needles into a sore ligament). Then I put him in the stocks whilst they prepared the equipment, which was like a drip bag hanging up. Then the first drip back led into a round disc leading to another drip bag. Then they took the blood from his neck and put it into the top bag in which they had already put a mixture of anticoagulant and saline solution and something else if I remember correctly. The blood eventually went into the disc and then gradually seeped through into the bottom collection bag (this was the protein rich plasma). Then the plasma blood was put from the collection bag into the syringe which was injected twice into the ligament.

Horse back in stable to recover, whilst I went to the garage for food as suddenly come over all weak and useless (not brilliant with veterinary procedures). Got back, horse came round from sedation, loaded and home.

Now has on a big bandage which is due off today, a weeks box rest, a week of paddock turnout (as normal) and then a week of walk, and a week of trot. Vet reevaulating in six weeks when hopefully we can move into canter work.
 
fascinating to see how different vets recommend different amounts of rest. I was told 10 days box rest,3 months small paddock rest, nothing else, then rescan in Dec and if ok start walk work. Horse was fully fit and competing at time of injury

Procedure was done at local vets, under surpervision of Rossdales.
 
Thistle said:
fascinating to see how different vets recommend different amounts of rest..
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Depends on type of injury.

Bailey had his injury around middle June 2011 and has had a lot of treatment (LW ultrasound and shock wave/box rest/bring back into work since then).

When he was trotted on the lunge a few minutes before having the PRP at the vets, it wasn't even obvious he had a problem at all, his 'lameness' was barely noticeable, you had to know what you were looking for.

His is only a slight sprain of the later branch of the suspensory ligament.

So I think it obviously depends on what kind of rehab has taken place before the PRP is done, and what the initial injury is and how severe it is.
 
My horse had this treatment 2years ago. I stuck to the exercise regime and he's been in full work since his final scan. I'm so pleased with the results, so glad I went for that treatment and know other people with the same results.
 
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