Stem Cell Procedure Gone Wrong!!!!

[apexseal]

On the January, my horse underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove small chips from both knees (upper bone). Surgery went well, and the Vets prognosis was excellent. I inquired about stem cell therapy and decided to go ahead with it, to further aid in the healing process.

The horses knees were injected mid March, and again the first week of May.
After breezing 400 in 24.2 easily 15 days ago, last week he was brought to the vet for sinusitis treatment.

The vet proceeded to x-ray the knees after noticing that they were somewhat puffy (liquid filled).

The x-rays revealed a shocking scenario; osteoarthritis is rapidly progressing in both knees (surfaces of viewable bone). Bone clearance / separation (joint surface) is however normal.

His front ankles were also injected (they were not operated upon) with stem cells as a preventive measure but show no signs of osteoarthritis.

He showed me the pre operation x-ray, and it clearly shows absolutely no evidence of osteoarthritis. Needles to say he is flabbergasted, as he has never witnessed such reaction to stem cells, or the rapid onset of osteoarthritis. He has no explanation for this, and will report his findings to the University of Colorado. At the moment he cannot precise if the cartilage is affected, since it cannot be seen through x-rays.

The horse has not manifested any signs of pain or discomfort whatsoever.

What could have provoked such reaction????

Now I feel that I paid $2K to cripple my horse....Damn!

[Tappiano]

Ouch! That sounds like a reaction of some sort.

[fastappy]

Really sorry to hear about your situation. That's a real bummer when you try to do everything right including the additional expenses, only to get this type of news.

[zinn21]

Are you on a vet recommended protocol regarding training regimen? What sort of stem cell injection took place? Was it done to regrow cartilage? What were the stem cell injections specifically supposed to do?

In general from my experience; a scope done in January followed by stem cell injections in March and May; then a quarter layed down in 24 and change in early June seems like a whole lot in a very short period of time.

Hey Appy, saw a pic of your stud's baby out of Doc Woolsey's mare. Gorgeous.. Is the baby a chestnut or a light bay?? Looked like a chestnut in the Pic but didn't think your stud threw anything but bays..

[cewright]

On the January, my horse underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove small chips from both knees (upper bone). Surgery went well, and the Vets prognosis was excellent. I inquired about stem cell therapy and decided to go ahead with it, to further aid in the healing process.

The horses knees were injected mid March, and again the first week of May.
After breezing 400 in 24.2 easily 15 days ago, last week he was brought to the vet for sinusitis treatment.

The vet proceeded to x-ray the knees after noticing that they were somewhat puffy (liquid filled).

The x-rays revealed a shocking scenario; osteoarthritis is rapidly progressing in both knees (surfaces of viewable bone). Bone clearance / separation (joint surface) is however normal.

His front ankles were also injected (they were not operated upon) with stem cells as a preventive measure but show no signs of osteoarthritis.

He showed me the pre operation x-ray, and it clearly shows absolutely no evidence of osteoarthritis. Needles to say he is flabbergasted, as he has never witnessed such reaction to stem cells, or the rapid onset of osteoarthritis. He has no explanation for this, and will report his findings to the University of Colorado. At the moment he cannot precise if the cartilage is affected, since it cannot be seen through x-rays.

The horse has not manifested any signs of pain or discomfort whatsoever.

What could have provoked such reaction????

Now I feel that I paid $2K to cripple my horse....Damn!

I am reading your post with a sense of urgency since I had chips removed from my 3 yo geldings right carpus last month.

As I understand your situation, in January chips were removed from both knees arthoscopically, the horse was injected (treated with stem cells and what else?) in March and May, and the ankles were also injected (with stem cells and what else?). Now the horse is showing signs of osteoarthritus in the knees but not in the ankles. I am not a vet but it is a big jump to say the stem cell treatment caused the problem. Instead, I would supect the underlying pathology which caused the initial chips in the knees is stilll active.

Can you share any more?

Thanks

Chuck

[fastappy]

I would sure like to know as well, if the stem cell procedure is somehow responsible for the osteoarthritis.

(Hi Zinn21! Yeah my stallion throws 99.5% bays so I'm pretty sure she will bay out. He has 3 Grays & the rest Bays o/o approx. 55 foals.)

[apexseal]

Are you on a vet recommended protocol regarding training regimen? What sort of stem cell injection took place? Was it done to regrow cartilage? What were the stem cell injections specifically supposed to do?

In general from my experience; a scope done in January followed by stem cell injections in March and May; then a quarter layed down in 24 and change in early June seems like a whole lot in a very short period of time.

Hey Appy, saw a pic of your stud's baby out of Doc Woolsey's mare. Gorgeous.. Is the baby a chestnut or a light bay?? Looked like a chestnut in the Pic but didn't think your stud threw anything but bays..

The chip removal procedure was very minor. Yes, he is on a Vet protocol. He was basically on stall rest 70 days, 15 days swimming and 35 day galloping before the breeze.

The stem cells were basically injected to assist the healing process.

[apexseal]

I am reading your post with a sense of urgency since I had chips removed from my 3 yo geldings right carpus last month.

As I understand your situation, in January chips were removed from both knees arthoscopically, the horse was injected (treated with stem cells and what else?) in March and May, and the ankles were also injected (with stem cells and what else?). Now the horse is showing signs of osteoarthritus in the knees but not in the ankles. I am not a vet but it is a big jump to say the stem cell treatment caused the problem. Instead, I would supect the underlying pathology which caused the initial chips in the knees is stilll active.

Can you share any more?

Thanks

Chuck

As far as I know, the stem cells were injected alone (except for some sort of standard diluting liquid).

The chips occurred during a race in which he won and was subsequently disqualified.
Taking the curve for home, the horse pinched his testicles (this had been an on / off problem of his, but after the chip removal he was gelded) and threw himself violently to the inside, hitting the two horses he was just passing by. This action caused his knees to make contact with each other in a sudden and awkward fashion.

What puzzles me and the Vet is that there was absolutely no signs of osteoarthritis in the pre-op x-rays, none! And now it’s all over the place and in such short time.

[Gallop58]

Have you got Lyme going on in your area? I have, in the deep recesses of my memory some mirky linkage of Lyme and osteo. A quick google of "Sudden onset osteoarthritis" seems to yields some anecdotal web comments on a potential linkage.(Take it for what it's worth).

Just a thought.

KH