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PloS one2021; 16(3); e0247781; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247781

Complications following equine sacroiliac region analgesia are uncommon: A study in 118 horses.

Abstract: Diagnosis of sacroiliac region pain is supported by a positive response to sacroiliac region analgesia (SIRA). Varying techniques have been described for SIRA; with clinician preference often dictating method. Potential complications following SIRA include ataxia and recumbency. No study has specifically evaluated the prevalence of complications. To describe the complication prevalence following SIRA in a referral clinic. Retrospective cohort study. Review of records from horses presented to two of the authors at Rossdales, Newmarket, between January 2014 and December 2018, that underwent SIRA. Injection was performed using a blind midline approach with 20 mL mepivacaine (Intra-Epicaine 20mg/ml; Dechra) infiltrated through a straight 18 gauge 8.9cm spinal needle subdivided into four sub-locations per block. 118 horses were included, with 167 individual blocks. One horse showed a mild hindlimb gait abnormality following SIRA, which resolved uneventfully over 3 hours; complication rate 1/118 horses (0.85%; 95% CI: 0,2.5%), 1/167 joints (0.60%; 95% CI: 0,1.8%). SIRA subjectively improved lameness/performance in 132/167 (79%) joints. 49/118 (42%) received bilateral SIRA with 53/118 (45%) evaluated ridden following SIRA. Small population numbers with low complication prevalence rate. SIRA, using the described technique, has a low (0.85%) prevalence of complications.
Publication Date: 2021-03-02 PubMed ID: 33651806PubMed Central: PMC7924748DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247781Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research article outlines a study on the prevalence of complications following Sacroiliac Region Analgesia (SIRA), a method used for diagnosing sacroiliac pain in horses. The study, conducted on a sample of 118 horses, found that complications were unusual, with only a 0.85% prevalence rate observed.

Study Methodology

  • The researchers carried out a retrospective cohort study, reviewing records of horses that underwent SIRA at Rossdales, Newmarket, between January 2014 and December 2018.
  • The selected methodology for SIRA involved utilizing a blind midline approach with 20mL mepivacaine per block, divided into four sub-locations.
  • The research was limited to a total of 118 horses, comprising 167 individual blocks.

Findings and Conclusions

  • Out of the sample of 118 horses, only one showed a mild hindlimb gait abnormality following SIRA, which resolved without intervention over three hours. This suggests that the complication rate was at 1 out of 118 horses (0.85%), or 1 out of 167 joints (0.60%).
  • The results indicated that SIRA improved the condition of lameness or the performance in 79% of the joints of the horses.
  • The study also demonstrated that 42% of the horses received bilateral SIRA, and 45% were evaluated while ridden following SIRA.
  • Despite the small number of the sample and the low prevalence rate, the study concludes that complications following SIRA, using the described technique, are rare, with a prevalence rate of only 0.85%.

Limitations and Further Research

  • The population size used in the study was small which might have impacted the representation of the result. This means that a larger sample size could provide more enhance understanding and generalize the findings.
  • This research also highlights the need for future studies to evaluate other techniques used for SIRA and compare their complication rates.

Cite This Article

APA
Offord SCJ, Read RM, Pudney CJ, Bathe AP. (2021). Complications following equine sacroiliac region analgesia are uncommon: A study in 118 horses. PLoS One, 16(3), e0247781. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247781

Publication

ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 3
Pages: e0247781

Researcher Affiliations

Offord, Samuel C J
  • Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Exning, Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
Read, Rachel M
  • Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Exning, Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
Pudney, Camilla J
  • Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Exning, Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
Bathe, Andrew P
  • Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Exning, Newmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthesia, Local / adverse effects
  • Anesthesia, Local / veterinary
  • Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
  • Anesthetics, Local / adverse effects
  • Anesthetics, Local / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Gait Ataxia / chemically induced
  • Gait Ataxia / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / drug therapy
  • Mepivacaine / administration & dosage
  • Mepivacaine / adverse effects
  • Mepivacaine / therapeutic use
  • Nerve Block / adverse effects
  • Nerve Block / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sacroiliac Joint / physiopathology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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