Press Releases
Dr. Ross Rich of Cave Creek Equine Recently Presented the Outcome of 42 Horses with Stifle Injuries Treated with Vet-Stem Regenerative Cell Therapy
2013-11-27 --
Dr. Ross Rich of Cave Creek Equine Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging Center in Arizona had the opportunity to present his positive findings on the "Outcome of 42 Horses with Stifle Injuries Treated with Adipose-Derived Regenerative Cells (stem cells) and IRAP" (Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein Therapy) at this year's North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association Conference in Atlanta Georgia this month.
Dr. Rich's findings proved his hypothesis true that treatment of stifle injuries with stem cells and IRAP could improve athletic outcomes, performance longevity, and shorten recovery times when compared to other treatment methods for similar injuries. Stifle injuries causing ongoing lameness are relatively common in performance horses and have prematurely ended many an equine athlete’s career. Stifle problems can be refractory to treatment and have long recovery times. Previous studies evaluating treatment of stifle abnormalities with stem cells had low case numbers and limited athletic performance follow-up, but Dr. Rich’s presentation shed some new light on the topic.
This study focused on a large series of clinical cases, with a standardized rehabilitation program, and a stringent, long-term criterion for success. Dr. Rich’s findings demonstrated good to excellent (over 64% of the subjects) long-term return to full work, in horses with lameness caused by stifle injuries, treated with arthroscopy, stem cell therapy by Vet-Stem, and IRAP. Dr. Rich also found evidence in this study to support the continued use of these treatment methods for successful treatment of bone, cartilage, and ligament injuries/lesions of the equine stifle.
Dr. Rich approaches his care of horses with a holistic methodology believing that lameness can be a result of more than one injury. His facility in Cave Creek offers medical and surgical services geared towards diagnosis and treatment of sports-related problems in the elite and future equine athlete. Cave Creek Equine Surgical & Diagnostic Imaging Center strives to keep the veterinarians, technicians, and office staff updated in the most innovative care of the horse from the beloved pet to international competition horse, and have treated over 600 horses with Vet-Stem’s Regenerative Cell Therapy, with amazing results over the last ten years.
About Vet-Stem, Inc.
Vet-Stem, Inc. was formed in 2002 to bring regenerative medicine to the veterinary profession. The privately held company is working to develop therapies in veterinary medicine that apply regenerative technologies while utilizing the natural healing properties inherent in all animals. As the first company in the United States to provide an adipose-derived stem cell service to veterinarians for their patients, Vet-Stem, Inc. pioneered the use of regenerative stem cells in veterinary medicine. The company holds exclusive licenses to over 50 patents including world-wide veterinary rights for use of adipose derived stem cells. In the last decade over 10,000 animals have been treated using Vet-Stem, Inc.’s services, and Vet-Stem is actively investigating stem cell therapy for immune-mediated and inflammatory disease, as well as organ disease and failure.
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