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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / Cervical epidural catheter for administration of detomidine ...
Veterinary surgery : VS2025; doi: 10.1111/vsu.70031

Cervical epidural catheter for administration of detomidine and morphine in a model of carpal synovitis in the horse.

Abstract: To determine the analgesic effects of detomidine and morphine administered by cervical epidural catheter (CEC) on a model of thoracic limb pain. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded crossover study. Methods: Five adult horses. Methods: Cervical epidural catheters were placed under ultrasound guidance, followed by induction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated carpal synovitis. Horses received either saline or detomidine/morphine (DM; 10 μg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, respectively) via CEC 4 h after synovitis. After a 7 day washout, synovitis was induced in the contralateral carpus, and the alternate treatment was administered. Evaluations occurred prior to and at 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after synovitis, including physical, lameness, and neurologic exams, pain scoring, mechanical threshold testing, and joint circumference measurement. Mixed-model linear regression was used to assess the effects of time, treatment, and their interaction, with horse as a random effect. Results: All DM-treated horses became sedate, and four of five developed hypermetria and ataxia. Four of five DM-treated horses also showed at least a 50% decrease in lameness by 2 h after treatment. Rectal temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate were elevated in the DM group in comparison with the saline group (p < .027). No differences were observed in mechanical nociceptive thresholds or pain scores between groups. Conclusions: These results support further exploration of cervical epidural treatment with DM for thoracic limb analgesia. Conclusions: Further studies are warranted to optimize dosing and assess neurologic side effects of this drug combination.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2025-09-29 PubMed ID: 41020582DOI: 10.1111/vsu.70031Google Scholar: Lookup
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APA
Edwards VL, Reed R, Perlini M, Moorman VJ. (2025). Cervical epidural catheter for administration of detomidine and morphine in a model of carpal synovitis in the horse. Vet Surg. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.70031

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Edwards, Veronica L
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Reed, Rachel
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Perlini, Michael
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Moorman, Valerie J
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.

Grant Funding

  • American College of Veterinary Surgeons Foundation, Surgeon in Training Grant

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