A tear in the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), also known as the CCL (cranial cruciate ligament), is a common injury among dogs. The ACL is a ligament in a dog's knee (also known as a "stifle"), and when it is torn, the dog experiences pain and a loss of stability in the knee. Stem-cell treatment is not used to directly treat an ACL tear, but it is used to treat a common side effect of an ACL tear: osteoarthritis in the joint.
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Osteoarthritis
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When a dog's knee becomes unstable due to an ACL tear, the bones will rub against each other. That damages the cartilage in the joint and causes inflammation, or osteoarthritis. Even if an ACL tear is repaired with surgery, osteoarthritis can still be a common side effect.
Stem Cells
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Stem cells are found in most tissues of all mammals, including dogs. Stem cells have the ability to change into many different kinds of cells and to replicate quickly, and are increasingly being used for cellular-level medical treatments (for example, bone-marrow transplants used to treat leukemia). Stem-cell therapies s are used to treat various ailments in dogs, including osteoarthritis.
Collecting Stem Cells
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Stem cells are collected from the fat of dogs. That is because the fat is easy to get to, it has a high number of stem cells, and the fat is a renewable source. The fat is collected from the dog needing the treatment, so the dog's body won't reject the stem cells. Collection of stem cells is conducted under general anesthesia and usually involves a pretty significant incision, which must be closed with sutures or stitches. When the fat is collected, usually from a fat deposit on the abdomen or shoulder blade, it is sent to a lab to have the stem cells removed from the fat. That process involves using a centrifuge to "spin out" the stem cells.
Injecting Stem Cells
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Once the stem cells are returned to the veterinarian, they are injected directly into the knee of the dog. That is usually done under general anesthesia because the the injection can be very painful and must be done with exact precision. Once injected properly, the stem cells can seek out the damaged joint and begin to repair the cartilage. That usually will result in a reduction in swelling and an increase in blood flow to the joint.
Prognosis
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Because this is a relatively new treatment, it is difficult to make an accurate long-term prognosis. How well the dog recovers depends on the condition of the joint and the overall health of the dog at the time of treatment. Most dogs experience at least some pain relief and improvement with mobility in the joint. The dog also may receive a second injection in the knee in six to 12 months after the initial injection if more stem cells than were needed for the initial injection were collected by the lab.
This treatment is intended for dogs that do not respond well to traditional medications or are unable to take traditional medications.
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