A comparison of seven methods for continuous therapeutic cooling of the equine digit.

This research evaluated seven different methods of therapeutic cooling for horse feet, noticing that those methods which encompassed both the foot and pastern lowered foot surface temperature more significantly – a crucial element for preventing or treating laminitis.

Overview of the Study

• The study was based on an experimental crossover design and served to compare seven different cooling methods applied on horse feet. The methods included commercially available ice packs, wraps and boots, along with one dry-sleeve device specifically designed for the purpose of the research.
• These methods were applied to a single forelimb in 4 horses, for a duration of 8 hours, with a gap (washout period) of at least 72 hours between each step. Hoof wall surface temperature (HWST) was recorded continuously every hour in both the cooled and the uncooled forelimbs.

Study Findings

• The study mainly found that those methods which incorporated both the foot and the pastern produced the lowest median HWST. Specifically, icing and water immersion technique showed the most promising results, with the fluid bag (5.2°C) and ice boot (2.7°C) being the most effective.
• Ice boot method that enveloped the distal limb, but excluded the foot, disclosed a significantly higher median HWST (25.7°C).
• On the contrary, dry applications, like ice packs, applied only to the foot, managed to achieve median HWST of 21.5°C for the coronet sleeve and 19.8°C for a commercial ice pack.
• When the dry application included both the foot and distal limb, the median HWST was observed to be much higher for the ice pack device, but remained low for the specially designed perfused cuff, with the temperature at 5.4°C.

Conclusions and Implications

• The immersion of both the foot and at least the pastern region in ice and water managed to sustain a HWST of less than 10°C, which was also accomplished by the prototype of the cuff device with a dry interface.
• The variations in cooling techniques can have a profound effect on HWST. Hence, this could greatly impact their efficacy in clinical regimen, particularly in the prevention or treatment of laminitis.