Most causes of lameness fall into the following categories:
Each horse will undergo a thorough exam with gait analysis, flexion tests, nerve and joint blocks as needed. Lameness evaluations are performed both in the clinic (where we have at our fingertips advanced diagnostic imaging both digital radiography and ultrasonography) or in the field for the initial examination. Arthroscopy is available for intra-articular evaluations (see surgery: arthroscopy). We also offer specialty lameness treatments such as IRAP, Renovo, PRP, and Osphos.
Specialty lameness treatments that we offer include irap, PRP (platelet rich plasma), Renovo, OsPhos, Noltrex, Arthramid, and more.
IRAP
IRAP therapy utilizes your patient's own blood and natural healing mechanisms. The patented IRAP syringe produces autologous conditioned serum (ACS), which contains active quantities of anti-inflammatory and regenerative cytokines.
How does it work? The IRAP syringe contains specially treated glass beads that stimulate the white blood cells to produce the anti-inflammatory and regenerative cytokines. The whole blood is incubated overnight and then centrifuged to collect serum. The serum produced is then re-injected into the patient.
Has it been tested? The patented IRAP therapy has been used safely and effectively in thousands of horses around the world. In a controlled study at Colorado State University*, results indicated that there was significant clinical and histologic improvement in osteoarthritis-affected joints of horses following treatment with ACS, compared with placebo treatment. Horses treated with ACS had significant clinical improvement in lameness, unlike the placebo group. IRAP therapy has been used to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions: Joint lameness,Tendon and ligament injuries, and Muscle injuries. Information provided by Dechra Veterinary Products.
Renovo
RenoV® is a liquid, acellular, equine amniotic tissue allograft comprised of amnion and amniotic fluid, intended to supplement and protect tissues. It is cryopreserved and provided frozen in three volumes. Amnion and amniotic fluid are rich sources of biologically active factors involved in tissue regeneration with reported anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, re-epithelialization, and anti-fibrotic properties. Amniotic tissues contain key growth factors, amino acid, hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans, and extracellular matrix proteins recognized as intrinsic to the complex tissue healing process.
RenoV® is enjoying rapid adoption as a superior alternative to autologous and other therapies. Ready availability of an allograft potentiates clinical use without having time lapse for culturing cells or harvest techniques required for PRP and other autologous therapies. Due to individual variability within products such as PRP, cytokine and growth factor profiles can vary dramatically between patients. The reproducibility of each donor tissue also offers a more homogeneous protein concentration and product consistency in comparison to other regenerative modalities. RenoV® is cryopreserved and maintained frozen before use, to preserve beneficial proteins that may not survive lyophilization.
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)
PRP, Platelet Rich Plasma, is the platelet concentrated plasma obtained from anti-coagulated whole blood via a centrifugation process. The Platelet concentration needs to be at least four times that of whole blood to be considered "platelet rich". The platelets are concentrated around the buffy coat, from distal plasma to the uppermost portion of the red pack. PRP is being used clinically by equine veterinarians for tendon and ligament healing and granulation of tissue defects.
Osphos
The intramuscular bisphosphonate injection for control of clinical signs associated with navicular syndrome in horses 4 years of age and older.