Equine Tendinitis - Combination of Orthobiologicals and Rehabilitation Strategies

Abstract

Background: Tendons are essential structures in equine locomotion, allowing limb mobility through articular movements of flexion and extension. Composed of type I collagen fibers organized in dense connective tissue; they also act as reservoirs and transmitters of elastic energy. Acute or chronic tendinitis are especially common in athletic horses. Ultrasonography is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis and monitoring of these lesions. Treatment should be multidisciplinary, with initial focus on reducing inflammation and preventing fibrosis, using cryotherapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs), compression bandages, and physiotherapy. The latter, through techniques such as controlled walking, passive mobilization, massage, and laser therapy, contributes to the reorganization of collagen fibers, tissue regeneration, and pain relief. Among orthobiological therapies, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and equine amniotic fluid (EAF) have been gaining prominence due to their synergistic effects on tissue regeneration. The combined use of these approaches represents a promising strategy in the treatment of tendinitis in athletic horses.
Case: A 25-year-old Criollo horse breed, used in lasso sports, diagnosed with tendinitis of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), attended at the Veterinary Clinical Hospital (HCV) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) is reported. Diagnosis and monitoring of the lesion were performed through ultrasonography, which was fundamental to guide the treatment phases. The animal remained hospitalized for 3 months, undergoing conventional therapies such as physiotherapy, cryotherapy, compression bandages, corrective farriery, and orthopedic shoeing. Regenerative therapies were also applied: intralesional PRP and subcutaneous EAF. The patient responded positively to treatment, with progressive clinical improvement, being discharged with a recommendation for retirement from sporting activities. Follow-up was maintained with periodic returns every 3 months for clinical review and orthopedic shoeing.
Discussion: Tendon injuries are frequent in horses subjected to high-impact activities, such as lasso sports, and result from the imbalance between the tendon’s resistance capacity and the mechanical loads required. Factors such as advanced age, overload, and alterations in hoof conformation contribute to the worsening of the condition. The adoption of an initial protocol with cryotherapy, NSAIDs, compression bandages, and physiotherapy aims to control the inflammatory process and reduce fibrosis formation. The introduction of orthobiological therapies, such as PRP and EAF, presented complementary effects, contributing to tissue reorganization and acceleration of healing. The use of ultrasonography was essential to guide treatment and monitor clinical response. In cases such as the one described, in which return to sport is no longer viable due to age and fragility of scar tissue, the integrated approach with regenerative therapies and physiotherapy allowed clinical improvement, pain relief, and maintenance of the patient’s quality of life. 

Keywords: regenerative therapies, tendinitis, equines, ultrasonography.

Título: Tendinite em equino - combinação de ortobiológicos e estratégias de reabilitação

Descritores: terapias regenerativas, tendinite, equinos, ultrassonografia.