Autologous conditioned serum and platelet-rich plasma in equine orthopedic therapeutics

Musculoskeletal injuries that occur in horses during sports activities are often disabling and require a long period of treatment and rehabilitation, most resulting in scar tissue, predisposing to recurrence. In search of more effective therapies and tissue regeneration, studies have been carried out with blood derivatives - platelet rich plasma and autologous conditioned serum. In spite of both being blood-derived therapies, platelet rich plasma and autologous conditioned serum are distinct products, with equally distinct indications for their use. Platelet rich plasma shows promising results in ligament and tendon injuries in clinical and experimental trials. This occurs also in osteoarticular lesions with both hemoderivates, autologous conditioned serum and platelet rich plasma. This review aims to present clinical and experimental studies (in vivo and in vitro) in the equine species, as an aid for an appropriate therapeutic choice, when hemoderivates are considered for treatment of musculoskeletal lesions.