The Combined Use of Triamcinolone and Platelet-Rich Plasma in Equine Metacarpophalangeal Joint Osteoarthritis Treatments: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study.

Intra-articular corticosteroids, such as triamcinolone acetonide (TA), help reduce pain related to osteoarthritis (OA), but they may impair cartilage metabolism. In contrast, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a regenerative therapy, has shown potential to promote healing and regeneration of articular cartilage. This study investigates the effects of combining PRP with TA to treat osteoarthritis in racehorses. The study proposes that PRP injection following TA treatment could reduce side effects and improve treatment outcomes. Firstly, in the in vitro study, chondrocytes were exposed to different TA concentrations, with or without PRP. TA dramatically reduced chondrocyte viability. However, this was prevented by the addition of PRP, which also increased cell proliferation. In the in vivo study, 32 racehorses with metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint OA were separated into two groups: one received only TA, while the other received TA followed by PRP. For both groups, there were improved flexion assessments one week following the last treatment, but by two weeks following the last treatment, only TA+PRP had improved flexion assessments. TA+PRP also had improved lameness scores two weeks after the last treatment. In conclusion, combining PRP with TA could enhance chondrocyte viability and provide a better long-term therapeutic option for treating OA in racehorses. Further trials are required to thoroughly assess this technique's safety and efficacy.