Treatments of the injured tendon in Veterinary Medicine: from scaffolds to adult stem cells

Abstract

In order to treat frequently occurring conditions such as traumatic rupture or over-strain tendinopathies, the techniques of tissue engineering and cell-based therapies have become an accepted modus operandi since other available remedies appear to be ineffective in restoring the original structure and function of the injured tissue. However, the mechanisms accounting for the effectiveness of novel regenerative approaches in treating equine tendon and ligament injuries remain poorly characterised. In this review we summarize and discuss the most significant results of our research regarding bioscaffold technology for treating complete tendon tears and the use of adult stem cells for treating tendon lesions induced by over-strain.