Effect of intralesional platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment on clinical and ultrasonographic parameters in equine naturally occurring superficial digital flexor tendinopathies - a randomized prospective controlled clinical trial.

Background: Regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects on tendinopathies have been attributed to blood-derived biologicals. To date the evidence for the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment of naturally occurring equine tendinopathies is limited. The purpose of this placebo-controlled clinical trial was to describe the effect of a single treatment of equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) disease with PRP on clinical and ultrasonographic parameters.

How to diagnose plantaris tendon involvement in midportion Achilles tendinopathy - clinical and imaging findings.

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate if clinical assessment, Ultrasound + Colour Doppler (US + CD) and Ultrasound Tissue Characterisation (UTC) can be useful in detecting plantaris tendon involvement in patients with midportion Achilles tendinopathy.

Methods: Twenty-three tendons in 18 patients (14 men, mean age: 37 years and 4 women: 44 years) (5 patients with bilateral tendons) with midportion Achilles tendinopathy were surgically treated with a scraping procedure and plantaris tendon removal. For all tendons, clinical assessment, Ultrasound + Colour Doppler (US + CD) examination and Ultrasound Tissue Characterisation (UTC) were performed.

Achilles tendinopathy-do plantaris tendon removal and Achilles tendon scraping improve tendon structure? A prospective study using ultrasound tissue characterisation.

Objectives: The plantaris tendon has recently been described as a possible important factor in midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Ultrasound tissue characterisation (UTC) is a method to study tendon structure (matrix integrity). The effect of plantaris tendon removal on Achilles tendon structure was studied using UTC.

Achilles tendons in people with type 2 diabetes show mildly compromised structure: an ultrasound tissue characterisation study.

Background: Musculotendinous overuse injuries are prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes. Non-enzymatic glycosylation of collagen resulting in tendon stiffening may play a role. In this case-control study we determined whether patients with diabetes had poorer ultrasonographic structure in their Achilles tendons compared to age-matched controls.

Effect of autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells on neovascularization of artificial equine tendon lesions.

Aims: To investigate whether autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) treatment of tendon lesions increases neovascularization during tendon healing.

Materials & Methods: A standardized surgical model was used to create lesions in both front limb superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) of nine horses. Either AT-MSCs or control substance was injected intralesionally 2 weeks post-surgery.

One-year follow-up of platelet-rich plasma treatment in chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Achilles tendinopathy is a common disease among both athletes and in the general population in which the use of platelet-rich plasma has recently been increasing. Good evidence for the use of this autologous product in tendinopathy is limited, and data on longer-term results are lacking.

Purpose: To study the effects of a platelet-rich plasma injection in patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy at 1-year follow-up.

Platelet-rich plasma injection for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Tendon disorders comprise 30% to 50% of all activity-related injuries; chronic degenerative tendon disorders (tendinopathy) occur frequently and are difficult to treat. Tendon regeneration might be improved by injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an increasingly used treatment for releasing growth factors into the degenerative tendon.

Objective: To examine whether a PRP injection would improve outcome in chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.

Computerised analysis of standardised ultrasonographic images to monitor the repair of surgically created core lesions in equine superficial digital flexor tendons following treatment with intratendinous platelet rich plasma or placebo.

The effectiveness of new therapies to treat tendon injuries is difficult to determine and is often based on semi-quantitative methods, such as grey level analysis of ultrasonographic images or subjective pain scores. The alternatives are costly and long-lasting end-stage studies using experimental animals. In this study, a method of ultrasonographic tissue characterisation (UTC), using mathematical analysis of contiguous transverse ultrasonographic images, was used for intra-vital monitoring of the healing trajectory of standardised tendon lesions treated with platelet rich plasma (PRP) or placebo.

Effects of platelet-rich plasma on the quality of repair of mechanically induced core lesions in equine superficial digital flexor tendons: A placebo-controlled experimental study.

Tendon injuries are notorious for their slow and functionally inferior healing. Intratendinous application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been reported to stimulate the repair process of tendon injuries, but there is little conclusive evidence for its effectiveness. A placebo-controlled experimental trial was performed to test the hypothesis that a single intratendinous PRP treatment enhances the quality of tendon repair, as evidenced by improved biochemical, biomechanical, and histological tissue properties.

Unfocused extracorporeal shock wave therapy as potential treatment for osteoporosis.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) influences the differentiation of bone marrow stroma cells towards osteoprogenitors and increases the expression of several growth factors. To assess whether unfocused ESWT might serve as a treatment for osteoporosis, we examined the bone architecture dynamics of ESWT-treated and untreated rat tibiae using in vivo micro-computed tomography (CT) scanning. In addition, the effects of ESWT on fracture healing, using a bilateral fibula osteotomy, were examined.

In vitro model to study chondrogenic differentiation in tendinopathy.

Background: Treatment of midportion Achilles tendinopathy is hampered by limited knowledge of the pathophysiology.

Hypothesis: Chondrogenic differentiation of tendon cells might take place in midportion Achilles tendinopathy and could be used as a target for drug treatment. An in vitro model for chondrogenic differentiation would be useful to evaluate existing and future treatment opportunities.

Monitoring of the repair process of surgically created lesions in equine superficial digital flexor tendons by use of computerized ultrasonography.

Objective: To evaluate quantitative ultrasonography for objective monitoring of the healing process and prognostication of repair quality in equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendons.

Animals: 6 horses with standardized surgical lesions in SDF tendons of both forelimbs.

Procedures: Healing was monitored for 20 weeks after surgery by use of computerized ultrasonography.

Can platelet-rich plasma enhance tendon repair? A cell culture study.

Background: Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) application appears to improve tendon healing in traumatic tendon injuries, but basic knowledge of how PRP promotes tendon repair is needed.

Hypothesis: Platelet-rich plasma has a positive effect on cell proliferation and collagen production and induces the production of matrix-degrading enzymes and endogenous growth factors by human tenocytes.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Achilles tendinosis: changes in biochemical composition and collagen turnover rate.

Background: Understanding biochemical and structural changes of the extracellular matrix in Achilles tendinosis might be important for developing mechanism-based therapies.

Hypothesis: In Achilles tendinosis, changes occur in biochemical composition and collagen turnover rate.

Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study.

Computerized ultrasonographic tissue characterization of equine superficial digital flexor tendons by means of stability quantification of echo patterns in contiguous transverse ultrasonographic images.

Objective: To describe a method of computerized ultrasonographic tissue characterization that includes structures below the size limits of resolution in equine superficial digital flexor tendons.

Sample Population: 2 damaged and 2 structurally normal superficial digital flexor tendons.

Procedure: Transverse ultrasonographic images were collected along the tendon long axis.