Abstract
This study was planned to prospectively evaluate the influence of platelets rich plasma (PRP) on the restoration of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in donkeys. Eighteen apparently clinically healthy male donkeys of 3-6 years old, weighing 150-200 kg, were used. The animals were classified into two equal groups; control group and PRP group. One cm transection of the full thickness of middle portion of the SDFT was made in all animals. First, all animals were subjected to sedation via xylazine HCl injection in a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight then the animals were deeply narcotized with chloral hydrate 10% in a dose of 5 gm/50 kg body weight. A linear skin incision in the palmar aspect of the right fore limb at the mid cannon region was performed in all operated animals. The animals in PRP group were subjected to intratendinous injections of 4 mL PRP with weekly interval (day 0, w1, w2, w3) under the guidance of ultrasonography. Representative tendon specimens from all animals were collected 30, 60, and 90 days post operation (PO) for histopathological examination. The obtained clinical and histopathological results reveled that PRP application improved the healing of SDFT compared to the control group, through increasing and acceleration of angiogenesis, fibrogenesis, collagen deposition and remodeling in the injured tendon matrices.
Highlights
Equine digital flexor tendons are important weight-bearing structures at rest and during motion and play an important role in equine rapid locomotion
The animals were classified into two equal groups; group I: and group II was exposed to platelets rich plasma (PRP) injection in the gap between the two cut ends
At 60 days, disorientation of the fibers represented by hyper echoic fibrous tissue and presence of hypo echoic content while at 90 days, superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT) showed well-formed and oriented tendon fiber with sub coetaneous reaction represented by an echoic fluids and fibrous reaction between SDFT and deep digital flexor tendons (DDFT) (Figure 1c)
Summary
Equine digital flexor tendons are important weight-bearing structures at rest and during motion and play an important role in equine rapid locomotion. Injuries of the flexor tendons are caused by multiple factors but most commonly by direct trauma or over strain [1]. The superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT) are more susceptible to injuries than the deep digital flexor tendons (DDFT) due to its superficial anatomic arrangement in the lower limbs, besides that the forelimbs carry about 60% of the animal weight [1]. The cross-sectional area of the SDFT is smallest in the mid-metacarpal region. The blood supply deficiency at mid- fore cannon region of the SDFT may result in rupture during exercise [2]. Laceration of the digital flexor tendon is usually of traumatic origin and range in the severity from minor unilateral rupture to complete bilateral rupture [3]
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