Cell-based therapy and rehabilitation with prosthetic limbs in a dog

Abstract

A 5-year-old male dog was presented with the complaint of a chronic nonhealing wound on both hind legs. The wound occurred during a serious train accident that caused loss of both hind limbs below the hock joint. Since then, the wound did not respond to any standard treatment for up to 4 months. Again it was dressed for 15 days, but it did not show any improvement. With the consent of the owner, cell-based therapy was conducted by collecting bone marrow from the proximal anteromedial aspect of the tibia. After the application of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) the time to complete healing was 24 days. Due to pressure at the bony cut stump, the dog was noted to have pain while walking, and walked on his forelegs. An artificial limb was subsequently applied. The dog managed to walk normally after several days of training.