WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP — The veterinarian who pioneered a stem cell procedure on an injured horse two months ago says the horse is 50 percent healed. Dr. Brian Burks of Fox Run Equine Center is the first in the region to perform the stem cell procedure on a horse in his office instead of sending the horse's fat to a lab for processing. Wilson, a 7-year-old quarter horse from West Virginia, suffered an injury to his right rear stifle, the equivalent of a human knee. Burks used Wilson's adult cells — called repair cells or regenerative cells — to repair the injury. They are not embryonic cells, whose use in human patients is controversial. In April, Burks cut pieces of fat from the horse's hindquarters, drew its blood and spun both in a centrifuge, separating out the useful bits. Enzymes were added, and the materials were filtered many times. The cells made a platelet-rich plasma, which was place under an LED light. That activated the stem cells. Finally, the stem cells were injected into the horse's stifle to rebuild the cartilage. "I think he's definitely better," Burks said during a checkup last week. "Not perfect, but definitely better." Wilson is a third of the way through his recovery. Healing will continue for about six months from the surgery, Burks said. During the checkup, Burks watched Wilson trot in a line and in a circle. He then checked the repaired area using a ultrasound machine. "That discrete tear that was there before is gone," Burks said. "He's got some ...
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