Biologics

Dr. Lauren Schnabel explores the role of orthobiologics in managing cervical pain, particularly in horses, and compares them to traditional treatments like corticosteroids, which have notable side effects such as neurotoxicity and insulin dysregulation. She covers a range of therapies, including musculoskeletal treatments, polyacrylamides for visco supplementation, and combination therapy for equine meniscal tears. Studies on steroid use in joint injections reveal issues like dosage variability and tissue changes, while orthobiologics, preferred over steroids, focus on pain management and maintaining natural inflammatory responses.

She discusses platelet-rich plasma (PRP), its analgesic properties, ongoing FDA trials, and how NSAIDs affect PRP growth factors. She also examines therapies like shockwave, stem cell, autologous condition serum (ACS), and autologous protein solution (APS) for tendon healing and joint issues, comparing APS to PRP and considering factors like reserpine’s impact on clotting during ACS preparation. Further, she highlights research on cytokine levels in response to stress, exercise, and NSAID influence, stressing personalized treatment plans based on patient-specific factors, veterinarian feedback, and managing client expectations.

The group discussed holistic inflammation management, tailored rehabilitation plans, preventive strategies in sports medicine, and future research directions in veterinary procedures for conditions like osteoarthritis in horses.