Equipment
Orthokin® /IRAP®-Therapy
There are mainly two possible causes of lameness in equines
The deterioration of joint cartilage (Arthrosis)
The deterioration of cartilage can start after an injury or after continuous overstrain on individual joint areas. This degenerative process is caused by complex mechanisms. The injured joint will therefore become inflamed and pain with different degree of intensity can arise.
Inflammation of the tendon apparatus
The tendon apparatus can also be damaged when a horse is injured or through overstraining the tendon. This will lead to the deterioration of fibres within the tendon. These fibres have to be gently repaired by the body using replacement tissue.
There is a balance of anti-inflammation and inflammation substances in the healthy joint. Injuries, overstrain and genetical preposition can lead to an increase in messengers-which initiate inflammation-in the tendon. This will lead to an inflammation of the joint and the horse will start to show lamness. Until now these inflammations were treated using cortisone compounds and hyarulonic acid. Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory and hyarulonic acid ensures that the joint fluid stays viscous. Both products have no immediate influence on the healing and regeneration of joint cartilage and they have no protective capacity.
In this scenario the IRAP treatment offers a trend setting alternative solution.
Scientific studies have shown, that with the help of this biological treatment, medium and long-term regeneration or at least a slowing down of the degeneration process of the joint cartilage can be achieved .
This treatment has been successfully used in human medicine since 1998. It is called Orthokin therapy. It has been especially used to treat spinal cord and the knee joint injuries, as well as tendon and muscle injuries.
Blood will be taken with a specifically designed syringe from the horse requiring treatment. This has to be done in sterile conditions. The syringe contains glass globules. Monocytes (white blood cells which kill bacteria) attach to the surface of the glass globules and will become activated to produce anti-inflammatory and regenerative substances. The attachment is occurring whilst the syringe is kept for 24 hours in an incubator.
Following the incubation the blood particles will be separated in a centrifuge and a “conditioned, body-own serum” (ACS) will be extracted. This serum can be later injected into the injured joint or into the inflamed tendon. The inflammation- that arises during a tendon injury- can also be contained with ACS. Therefore there will be less scar tissue and the new fibres will be of better quality.
The IRAP treatment promptly reduces swelling and pain as well as having a quick anti-inflammatory response.
Currently it is known that three injections are necessary to achieve the best response. These injections have to be given in an interval off 1-2 weeks. For this purpose the extracted ACS can be frozen and stored over a longer period of time.
The IRAP treatment has shown an advantage when compared with conventional treatment methods due to not as yet showing any side effects,.
If the hygienic standards are kept during the production and administration of ACS than the risk of infection due to the injection into the joint is next to nothing.
Doping is an very important issue for the equine athlete nowadays but in the treatment using ACS it is not relevant, as the stimulation of the globuli is a purely physical process and the protecting proteins are acquired from the horses own body.
Since 2001 positive clinical results have been achieved at the Clinic Burg Müggenhausen using ACS to treat ailments of the musculoskeletal system.
