Academic Journal
Effects of various perineural analgesia techniques on decreasing experimentally-induced lameness of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint.
| Title: | Effects of various perineural analgesia techniques on decreasing experimentally-induced lameness of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint. |
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| Authors: | Patterson HE; Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon L Tharp Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA., Yocom AF; Bayhill Equine, 123 Belmont Ave, Redwood City, CA, 94061, USA., Seabaugh KA; Department of Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 W Drake Ave, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Kawcak CE; Department of Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 W Drake Ave, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA., Contino EK; Department of Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 300 W Drake Ave, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA. Electronic address: erin.contino@colostate.edu. |
| Source: | Journal of equine veterinary science [J Equine Vet Sci] 2026 Jun; Vol. 161, pp. 105863. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 24. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8216840 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 0737-0806 (Print) Linking ISSN: 07370806 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Equine Vet Sci Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2003- : New York : Elsevier Original Publication: [Wildomar, CA : William E. Jones, c1981- |
| MeSH Terms: | Lameness, Animal*/chemically induced , Lameness, Animal*/drug therapy , Horse Diseases*/chemically induced , Horse Diseases*/drug therapy , Nerve Block*/veterinary , Nerve Block*/methods , Analgesia*/veterinary , Analgesia*/methods , Metacarpophalangeal Joint*, Interleukin-1beta/administration & dosage ; Interleukin-1beta/pharmacology ; Synovitis/veterinary ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage ; Anesthetics, Local/pharmacology ; Animals ; Horses ; Female ; Male ; Forelimb |
| Abstract: | Background: Recent evidence has shown that perineural analgesia may be less specific than previously thought. Aims/objectives: To compare the effects of four distal limb perineural analgesia techniques on resolving synovitis-induced lameness of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ). Methods: Nine horses had one MCPJ injected with 75 ng of recombinant equine interleukin-1β (reIL-1β). Ten hours later, horses underwent one of two blocking patterns: (1) a palmar digital (PDNB) followed by an abaxial sesamoidean (ASNB) nerve block or (2) a palmar metacarpal (PMNB) followed by a palmar (PaNB) nerve block. Skin sensitivity was evaluated four minutes post block. Lameness was assessed subjectively (Modified AAEP Grade 0-5) and objectively at five and ten minutes following each block. After a one-week washout period, lameness was induced in the opposite MCPJ, and the opposite blocking pattern was performed. Results: Mean subjective lameness post-reIL-1β injection was grade 3.2 and was not significantly improved following PDNBs or ASNBs. However, in two horses (2/9) lameness improved by ≥50 % five minutes post-PDNB. Mean subjective lameness significantly improved following PMNBs (grade 2.7 ± 0.8 at five and 2.2 ± 1.0 at ten minutes post-block; p < 0.03) and PaNBs (grade 1.5 ± 1.2 at five and 1.3 ± 1.3 at ten minutes post-block; p < 0.0001). Objective lameness scores followed a similar pattern, except the mean Q score did not significantly improve five minutes following the PMNB. Conclusion: MCPJ lameness was most reliably improved following both PMNBs and PaNBs. In some instances, MCPJ pain was substantially improved following a PDNB. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest None of the authors have any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Diagnostic analgesia; Fetlock synovitis; Low 4-point; Metacarpophalangeal lameness; Palmar digital nerve block |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Interleukin-1beta) 0 (Anesthetics, Local) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260326 Date Completed: 20260713 Latest Revision: 20260713 |
| Update Code: | 20260714 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jevs.2026.105863 |
| PMID: | 41887473 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 0737-0806 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jevs.2026.105863 |