In the News
Dr. Johnson featured in February issue of "The Equestrian News"
(click here to read article)
Jenny E. Johnson, VMD Attends Equine Veterinary Convention
Jenny E. Johnson, VMD of Calabasas, CA, recently attended the American Association of Equine Practitioners' 53rd Annual Convention, the world's premier continuing education meeting for equine veterinarians. The convention, held in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 1-5, offered veterinarians the latest advances in equine health care. Scientific sessions, practice management seminars and hands-on workshops on topics ranging from infectious disease to lameness were attended by an international gathering of over 2,400 veterinary professionals. Many of the sessions focused on providing new equine health care techniques that can be applied immediately to a veterinarian's daily practice.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.
10th International ISMST Meeting, Toronto, Canada
Dr. Johnson has recently returned from the 10th Annual International Society for Musculoskeletal Shockwave Therapy Congress, held this year in Toronto, Canada. This is an organization comprised largely of human orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors and physio-therapists from Europe, Canada, South America, and Asia, where shockwave therapy is widely used in human medicine. This annual meeting is held to bring together the experts in the field and share the most recent research in shockwave therapy and it’s applications in musculoskeletal treatments.
One of the most exciting areas that shockwave is being used is in the treatment of large wounds and burns. Surgeons from the U.S. Navy are starting a project called the Combat Wound Initiative in which they are using shockwave therapy to treat major wounds and burns suffered by U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. This project will be carried out at Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed Hospital. There have been several European reports of success in treating large wounds, including infected wounds, with shockwave therapy. The applications for this in veterinary medicine are huge. Shockwave therapy has been shown to significantly reduce the tissue necrosis suffered in wounds that have poor blood supply. This has substantial applications in both equine and companion animal medicine.
Another exciting area of research was on the effects of shockwave therapy on the physis or growth plates of young animals. Depending on the dose and energy level, shockwave therapy can either stimulate closure of the physis or stimulate continued growth of the bone. A non-invasive approach to helping to correct angular limb deformities would be a vast improvement over the current surgical methods. More research is ongoing in this area and we will keep you informed of any new findings.