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Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14515

Analysis of different techniques for injection of the interspinal space in horses.

Abstract: Impingement of spinous processes (SPs) is commonly diagnosed in the equine athlete. For diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, local injections are performed at the level of the space between adjacent spinous processes in affected horses. Objective: To assess the accuracy of different techniques for the local injection of the interspinal space in the equine thoracolumbar spine. Methods: Ex vivo experimental study. Methods: Equine thoracolumbar spine specimens were used to compare three techniques for needle insertion (midline; bilateral abaxial; unilateral oblique), two needles (20G-1½″; 20G-3½″) and two volumes (5 mL; 20 mL) for local injection of the interspinal space. Additionally, needle insertion based on radiographic, ultrasonographic guidance, or palpation was assessed. Computed tomographic analysis and anatomical dissection were performed to evaluate the distribution of the injected volume. Results: The most accurate injection of the interspinous ligament was achieved when the midline injection method using a 20G-1½″ short needle and a volume of 5 mL was used. Wide distribution of the injected volume was observed when the bilateral abaxial injection technique was utilised. The unilateral oblique injection technique led to significantly asymmetrical unilateral distribution of the injectate. Radiographic guidance did not increase the accuracy of the injection. Conclusions: The midline injection method is the most reliable technique for the targeted injection of the thoracolumbar interspinal space.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2025-05-09 PubMed ID: 40348603DOI: 10.1111/evj.14515Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article examines the efficacy of various methods for injecting medication into the interspinal space of horses, specifically in cases of spinous process impingement. The study concludes that a midline injection method, using a 20G-1½″ short needle and a volume of 5 mL, is the most accurate.

Objective and Methods

  • The objective of the research was to evaluate the precision of different methods for local injection in the interspinal space in the thoracolumbar spine of horses. This study was conducted due to the frequent diagnosis of spinous process impingement in athletic horses.
  • For this purpose, techniques for needle insertion (midline; bilateral abaxial; unilateral oblique), two types of needles, and two volumes of local injection were compared using ex vivo equine thoracolumbar spine specimens.
  • Computed tomographic analysis and anatomical dissection were used to gauge the distribution of the injected volumes.
  • The researches also evaluated the impact of different guidance methods (radiographic, ultrasonographic, or palpation) on the accuracy of needle insertion.

Findings

  • The most accurate injection of the interspinous ligament was observed using the midline injection technique, a 20G-1½″ short needle and a 5 mL volume.
  • The study discovered that wide distribution of the injected volume was evident when the bilateral abaxial injection technique was utilised.
  • The unilateral oblique injection technique led to a significantly asymmetrical unilateral distribution of the injection.
  • Notably, the study found that radiographic guidance did not enhance the accuracy of the injection.

Conclusions

  • The conclusion drawn from the research is that the midline injection method appears to be the most reliable technique for the targeted injection of the thoracolumbar interspinal space on horses suffering from spinous process impingement.
  • This finding has implications for treating equine athletes, highlighting the potential for more accurate, effective injections for those suffering from this condition.

Cite This Article

APA
Tress D, Hennessy S, Merle R, Jensen KC, Lischer C, Ehrle A. (2025). Analysis of different techniques for injection of the interspinal space in horses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14515

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Tress, Dorothea
  • Equine Clinic, Veterinary Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Hennessy, Simon
  • Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital, Kildare, Ireland.
Merle, Roswitha
  • Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School for Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Jensen, Katharina Charlotte
  • Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School for Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Lischer, Christoph
  • Equine Clinic, Veterinary Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Ehrle, Anna
  • Equine Clinic, Veterinary Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

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This article includes 24 references
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