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Topic:Nerves
The study of nerves in horses encompasses the structure, function, and disorders of the equine nervous system. This system is responsible for transmitting signals between different parts of the body and coordinating actions and sensory information. Key components include the central nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, which includes nerves extending throughout the body. Research in this area investigates the role of nerves in equine behavior, movement, and response to stimuli, as well as conditions such as neuropathies and nerve injuries. This topic includes a collection of peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the anatomy, physiology, and clinical implications of the nervous system in horses.
Anatomy and Ultrasound-Guided Injection of the Deep Branch of the Lateral Palmar Nerve in the Horse: A Cadaveric Study. Proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) injuries are a common cause of lameness in horses. Localization of pain in the proximal metacarpal and carpal region remains challenging. Current diagnostic analgesic techniques are not PSL-specific. The aim of this study was to investigate the nerve supply of the PSL, with particular focus on the deep branch of the lateral palmar nerve (DBLPaN), and to develop a landmark-based, ultrasound-guided injection technique targeting this nerve. Unassigned: Eighteen limbs from euthanized horses were dissected to describe the anatomy of the DBLPaN and branches, measur...
Leptomeningeal dissemination of a poorly differentiated carcinoma involving the trigeminal ganglion in a horse: a case report. Neoplastic conditions involving cranial nerves are uncommon in horses and represent a significant diagnostic challenge. Leptomeningeal dissemination is a recognized mechanism of tumor progression in aggressive neoplasms but is rarely reported in this species. A 15-year-old mixed-breed horse with a history of periocular squamous cell carcinoma treated by enucleation three years earlier developed progressive neurological signs. Initial differential diagnoses included metastatic neoplasia and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Due to rapid neurological deterioration, euthanasia and necropsy were...
Perineural dexamethasone does not prolong bupivacaine sensory blockade in equine palmar digital nerve blocks: a randomized crossover trial. To determine whether dexamethasone sodium phosphate (dexamethasone SP) prolongs the sensory blockade produced by perineural bupivacaine during medial and lateral palmar digital nerve blocks in horses. Unassigned: 8 healthy adult horses were enrolled in a blinded, randomized 4 X 4 crossover trial. Each horse received 1 of 4 perineural treatments over the palmar digital nerves of the left forelimb: bupivacaine, bupivacaine + dexamethasone SP, dexamethasone SP alone, or saline. A minimum 7-day washout was used between treatments. Mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) was measured at baseline and...
Anatomical Insights Into the Equine Cervical Intervertebral Foramina: Implications for Veterinary Practice. The equine cervical intervertebral foramina (IVF) represent vital anatomical regions facilitating the passage of spinal nerves and associated vasculature. An in-depth understanding of their anatomy is imperative for the safe implementation of diagnostic and surgical interventions. Despite their clinical significance, anatomical descriptions of the equine cervical IVF remain under-characterised in the existing literature, particularly in relation to the needs of equine veterinary surgeons. Our study provides comprehensive anatomical analysis of the IVF at the cervical vertebral levels C5/C6 and...
Administration Study of Bedinvetmab, an Antinerve Growth Factor Monoclonal Antibody, in Horses for Doping Control Purposes. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting nerve growth factor (NGF) represent a novel therapeutic approach for managing acute and chronic pain in humans and animals. However, their potential misuse as pain-masking agents in competitive equine sports raises significant welfare and integrity concerns. To enhance understanding of the elimination profile of anti-NGF mAb if misused in horses, this study describes the first administration of bedinvetmab (a canine anti-NGF mAb) in three geldings, establishing its plasma elimination profile following subcutaneous administration. Bedinvetmab plasma concen...
Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Cervical Vertebral Nerves and Synovial Tissues in Horses with Cervical Spinal Disease. Pathology of the cervical spine is an important cause of poor performance in sport horses. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have improved musculoskeletal diagnostic capabilities. CT is well-suited to assess osseous pathology, although it is limited for assessing soft tissues. MRI, the gold standard for imaging soft tissues, cannot be used for antemortem imaging of the equine cervical spine. The diagnostic potential of CT for evaluating soft tissues of the equine cervical spine compared to MRI is not well-defined and warrants investigation. Postmortem MRI was perfor...
Histological properties of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament in racing Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses. The distal sesamoidean impar ligament (DSIL) is a key component of the equine podotrochlear apparatus, yet its role in conditions such as caudal heel pain and navicular syndrome remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to characterize the histological properties of the DSIL and evaluate how it is influenced by breed and age. Eighty-four cadaveric forelimb DSIL samples were collected from young, athletic Quarter horses (QHs), Thoroughbreds (TBs), and older, retired Quarter horses. Samples were stained and assessed for vessel size and count, number of nerve fascicles, and the r...
Macroscopic comparison of open Metzenbaum and ultrasound-guided fasciotomy techniques for surgical treatment of the hindlimb proximal suspensory ligament desmopathy in horses: A cadaveric anatomical study. To macroscopically characterize and compare the open Metzenbaum (FOM) and ultrasound-guided (FUG) plantar fasciotomy techniques for decompression of the hindlimb proximal suspensory ligament (PSL), and to determine whether either approach induces intraligamentous splitting (ILS). Methods: Cadaveric experimental study. Methods: Paired hindlimbs from 10 adult horses with no history of hindlimb lameness. Methods: Each horse contributed one limb to FOM and the contralateral to FUG. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon, and incision measurements were obtained by a blinded examiner. Ski...
Effects of various perineural analgesia techniques on decreasing experimentally-induced lameness of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint. Recent evidence has shown that perineural analgesia may be less specific than previously thought. Objective: 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 75ng 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...
Preliminary Investigation of a Transcutaneous Ultrasound-Guided Technique for Pudendal Nerve Block in Six Horse Cadavers. Regional anaesthesia of the equine anogenital tract is limited to local infiltration, extradural, blind palpation and nerve stimulator-guided techniques which risk iatrogenic damage, recumbency and ataxia. This study aimed to describe and assess the feasibility of transcutaneous ultrasound-guided (USG) pudendal nerve staining in equine cadavers. An initial pilot phase used two fresh equine cadavers and one standing unsedated horse to image the intrapelvic anatomy using ultrasound. One fixed equine cadaver specimen was also dissected to identify the pudendal nerve and refine the dissection appr...
Investigating the effect of surface cryotherapy on equine patient compliance to infraorbital nerve block placement. To investigate the effect of applying ice to the skin overlying the infraorbital canal on the compliance of healthy adult horses to infraorbital nerve block placement during standing sedation. Methods: Blinded, randomized crossover trial. Methods: Thirty healthy adult horses [16 ± 3.9 years old (mean ± standard deviation), weighing 594 ± 63 kilograms (kg)]. Methods: Each horse acted as its own control with a minimum of 7 days between treatments. Horses were sedated using detomidine hydrochloride, and sedation level was evaluated using a published simple descriptive scale. Horses were random...
Functional and histopathologic evidence of laryngeal reinnervation using the spinal accessory nerve in horses. To evaluate functional and histopathologic outcomes of standing selective laryngeal reinnervation using the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) in horses with experimentally induced recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). Methods: Five Thoroughbred mares. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: The horses underwent left recurrent laryngeal neurectomy followed 8 weeks later by selective laryngeal reinnervation using the SAN. Follow-up evaluations at 4.5, 6, 8, and 12 months included treadmill exercising endoscopy, ultrasonography of intrinsic laryngeal muscles, and percutaneous electrical stimul...
Effect of palmar digital perineural analgesia (as a model for “nerving”) on forelimb loading over varied surfaces at the walk and trot – a pilot study. Navicular syndrome is characterized by palmar foot pain and is a common cause of lameness in horses. Palmar digital neurectomy (nerving) removes sensation to the heel region of the hoof and may serve as a treatment for navicular-afflicted horses, while analgesia (blocking) results in temporary loss of sensation. Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effect of loss of sensation in the heel on the forelimb area and force while tracking on soft and hard ground at the walk and trot. Methods: Three horses that scored a 0 or 1 on the AAEP lameness scale were fitted to Tekscan...
Acquired and Degenerative Conditions of the Cervical Vertebral Column in Horses. The cervical vertebral column in horses plays a crucial role in movement, posture, and performance and disorders affecting it can cause pain, ataxia, or lameness. This review discusses major acquired (traumatic, infectious, neoplastic) and degenerative (osteoarthritis, foraminal stenosis, intervertebral disc disease) conditions. Acquired lesions often arise from trauma, bacterial infection, or neoplasia, with clinical signs ranging from neck pain to neurologic deficits. Degenerative disorders, particularly osteoarthritis of articular process joints, are common in the caudal cervical spine and ...
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of the Equine Palmar Metacarpal Region Using E12 Plastinated Sections. Digital technologies have improved the visualization of anatomical structures for veterinary education and clinical practice. In this study, a detailed three-dimensional anatomical model of the equine palmar metacarpal region was generated using E12-based epoxy sheet plastination combined with digital reconstruction in Amira V5.6 software. Serial cross-sections of the metacarpal region provided high-resolution visualization of bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, vessels, fasciae, and synovial structures, with minimal shrinkage or deformation, ensuring improved anatomical accuracy. These section...
Surgical Removal of a Large Maxillary Sinus Mass Containing Three Dental Structures in a Standing Horse. Dental masses such as odontogenic masses, heterotopic polydontia, or ectopic supernumerary teeth have been documented in the equine head. This is the first case report of a large maxillary sinus mass with 3 ectopic teeth in an adult horse. A 14-year-old warmblood gelding was presented for evaluation of chronic right-sided nasal discharge. After imaging exploration, surgery was performed on the standing horse with a conchofrontal sinus trephination and a large maxillary bone (MB) sinusotomy. The examinations revealed a sinusal mass in the right maxillary sinus covered by sinusal mucosa and surr...
Femoral nerve neuropathy of an endurance horse as a sequela of iliopsoas muscle myopathy diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography. Femoral nerve neuropathy causes lameness, a condition clinically characterized by stifle's lack of extension with subsequent diminished lower limb function. This case report describes the ultrasonographic diagnosis of femoral neuropathy secondary to compression caused by myopathy of the iliopsoas muscle of an endurance horse during a competition. Transrectal ultrasonography played a pivotal role in diagnosis of the injury by assessment of the involved structures and monitoring of the healing process throughout the recovery period. The horse achieved complete recovery and successfully returned ...
Outbreak of digital extensor dysfunction compatible with acquired equine polyneuropathy observed for the first time in Iceland. Acquired equine polyneuropathy is a neuromuscular syndrome characterized by digital extensor dysfunction, primarily affecting the pelvic limbs, with consistent, repeated knuckling. Despite being recognized as an emerging disease in Scandinavia since 1995, the aetiology remains unknown, and cases have been limited to Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Methods: On a combined breeding and training farm in Iceland, 30 out of 145 horses (21%) presented with acute pelvic weakness, pelvic limb digital extensor dysfunction, knuckling and/or recumbency, from May to August 2019. The affected horses, aged 2-9Â...
Ultrasound-guided versus blind intercostal nerve injection in equine cadavers. To describe the detailed anatomy of the equine thoracoabdominal region and to compare the accuracy of ultrasound-guided versus blind intercostal nerve injection techniques, targeting the thoracic intercostal nerves (T12-T18) in equine cadavers. Methods: Randomized, blinded, cadaveric study. Methods: Eight fresh adult equine cadavers. Methods: Eight horse cadavers were used: one in phase I (436 kg; 4 years old) for anatomic landmarks identification and seven in phase II [420 (317-560 kg); 16 (3-22 years old) [median (minimum-maximum)] for comparative study. In phase I, dissections were performe...
Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation and Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment for Chronic Lameness Due to Distal Forelimb Disease in Horses: A Pilot Study. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) are non-pharmacological techniques employed in humans for chronic pain, but their veterinary application is unexplored. This pilot study evaluated clinical effects of RFA and PRF in twenty-four horses with chronic distal forelimb lameness. Ultrasound-guided RFA (N = 8; 60-90 °C, 2-8 min) or PRF (N = 16; 42 °C; 12 min) was applied to palmar digital nerves. Lameness was scored (American Association of Equine Practitioners scale) at baseline and monthly for six months (T1-T6). At T2, partial- and non-responders in both groups receive...
Navigated minimally invasive puncture of the trigeminal cistern in horses-a cadaveric study in preparation for a controlled rhizotomy. Trigeminal-mediated headshaking is a neuropathic disorder in horses, characterized by signs of regional pain similar to trigeminal neuralgia in humans. The injection of glycerol into the trigeminal cistern to ablate pain-conducting nerve fibers within the trigeminal ganglion -known as glycerol rhizotomy- is a well-established treatment in human medicine. This study compares two approaches to the equine trigeminal cistern using a navigation system for guiding needle placement, a previously described ventral and a newly developed transmandibular lateral approach. The surgical accuracy and risk o...
A dorsal ultrasound-guided approach to perineural injection of the sixth and seventh cervical spinal nerves in horses is accurate and does not result in epidural placement. To determine the accuracy of a dorsal ultrasound-guided approach for perineural injection of the sixth and seventh cervical spinal nerves (CSNs) with the use of a clinically relevant volume of injectate (2 mL). We hypothesized that the majority of injections would result in identification of contrast solution in the intervertebral foramen (IVF) on CT and corresponding methylene blue dye staining of the CSN on postmortem evaluation, and distribution of injectate into the epidural space would not occur. Unassigned: 7 horses donated to the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center for euthanas...
The effect of 0.5 mL mepivacaine administered as an abaxial sesamoid nerve block on lameness of horses with digital pain did not differ significantly from that of 2.5 mL of mepivacaine. To compare the effect of 2.5 mL 2% mepivacaine to the effect of 0.5 mL 2% mepivacaine administered over each palmar digital nerve, as an abaxial sesamoid nerve block (ASNB), to 6 horses lame because of naturally occurring digital pain. Unassigned: In a crossover study design with 3 horses in each group, the trotting gait of the horses was analyzed with an inertial sensor-based, motion-analysis system (Q with Lameness Locator; Equinosis LLC) immediately before and after treatment with either 0.5 or 2.5 mL mepivacaine administered over each nerve near the base of the proximal sesamoid bone of th...
Equine cadaveric study suggests tibial and fibular nerve block is feasible with a single ultrasound-guided injection via a caudocranial midfemoral approach. To describe anatomical references and sonoanatomy of an echo-guided injection for blocking the tibial and common fibular nerves with the use of a caudocranial midfemoral approach and to evaluate dye spreading in horse cadavers. Unassigned: 1 horse cadaver preserved in glycerin was used for the anatomical study, and 14 fresh horse cadavers were used for the dye spreading study. The experimental procedures were conducted on the first cadaver on March 25, 2021, and on the last cadaver on October 5, 2022. A glycerin-preserved horse cadaver's pelvic limb was dissected to identify anatomical landmar...
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of rocuronium in sevoflurane-anesthetized Thoroughbred horses. To investigate the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of rocuronium administered by bolus injection to sevoflurane-anesthetized horses. Methods: Prospective, experimental, crossover study. Methods: Five healthy adult Thoroughbred horses (body mass 368-470 kg, three females and two males). Methods: Each horse was anesthetized twice with sevoflurane and assigned to be administered rocuronium bromide intravenously: 0.2 mg kg (R02) or 0.4 mg kg (R04). There was a minimum 2 week washout period between experiments. During anesthesia, the peroneal nerve was stimulated (train-of-four) and neuromusc...
Gross Anatomy of the Equine Masseter Muscle: Lamination and Intramuscular Course of the N. Massetericus. The masticatory muscles of the horse are arranged in an asymmetrical pattern. Four individual muscles on the medial side of the mandible are opposed by one muscle (M. masseter) on the lateral side. However, recent studies on various herbivorous mammals indicate that the masseter muscle features a complex stratigraphic structure that might account for a functional diversity resembling an arrangement of several individual muscles. The functional consideration of the multidirectional equine masticatory movements leads to a similar hypothesis. In order to elucidate the detailed anatomy of the equi...
Lameness of horses is effectively ameliorated with a low volume of mepivacaine administered as a palmar digital nerve block. To determine the effect of 1.5 mL 2% mepivacaine, 0.75 mL 2% mepivacaine, and a combination of 0.75 mL 2% mepivacaine with epinephrine (1:200,000 solution) administered over each palmar digital nerve (PDN) to 6 horses with naturally occurring lameness caused by digital pain. Methods: In a crossover study design, 6 horses with forefoot-related lameness were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Each group received, on different study days, a PDN block using 1.5 mL of 2% mepivacaine, 0.75 mL 2% mepivacaine, or 0.75 mL of a combination of 2% mepivacaine and epinephrine (1:200,000 solution) injected...
Evaluation of the feasibility of equine in-vivo ultrasound technique for the medial branch of the dorsal ramus of the cervical spinal nerves. Ultrasound-guided local anaesthesia is commonly used in veterinary orthopaedics for horses. This study aimed to assess an ultrasound technique for the medial branch of the dorsal branch of the cervical spinal nerves (MB-DBCSNs) in horses and compare the performance of clinicians with different experience levels. Ten healthy, skeletally mature horses were examined using radiographic and ultrasound (US) techniques in the cervical area (C3-C7). Four operators with varying experience conducted US examinations using a 10 MHz linear and 6 MHz curvilinear transducer over ten training sessions. T...
Comparison of a hand-held high-end resolution infrared thermography (FLIR P640) and a smartphone infrared thermographic device (FLIR One) for the assessment of skin surface temperature after anaesthetising the median nerve in Healthy horses. Accuracy of a median nerve block is normally assessed by testing skin sensitivity on the medial and dorsal aspects of fetlock and pastern. The present study evaluated subjective and objective analysis of skin surface temperature obtained with two different infrared (IR) thermography cameras (a high-end [FLIR P640] and a smartphone IR thermography device [FLIR One®]) before and after anaesthesia of the median nerve. Thermographic images were obtained at 0, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after performing a median nerve block with 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride. The subjective analysis of thermographic ima...
Development of an ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation technique in the equine cadaveric distal limb: histological findings and potential for treating chronic lameness. Radiofrequency (RF) relieves chronic pain in humans, but it is unexplored in horses affected by chronic lameness. This study aims to describe the technique and the histological effects of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of palmar digital nerves (PDNs) in horse's fetlock and pastern, . Unassigned: After assessing the US anatomy of lateral and medial PDNs in fetlock and pastern ( = 10 horses; 20 forelimbs), US-guided RFA was performed on these sites in cadaveric forelimbs ( = 10) applying four different settings with increasing invasiveness ( = 40 total treatmen...
