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Determination and use of mechanical nociceptive thresholds of the thoracic limb to assess pain associated with induced osteoarthritis of the middle carpal joint in horses.
Abstract: To establish reference mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) values of the equine thoracic limb and to assess the use of MNT values to detect pain associated with induced osteoarthritis in the middle carpal joint. Methods: 24 adult horses. Methods: MNT values were evoked by a pressure algometer at 17 sites within each thoracic limb during 2 baseline sessions conducted an average of 5 days apart. Effects of age, sex, weight, and wither height on MNT values were assessed separately for each site. Tolerance of horses to the procedure was graded subjectively and correlated with MNT values. Synovitis and osteoarthritis were induced arthroscopically in the middle carpal joint of 1 randomly selected thoracic limb. The opposite limb served as a sham-operated control limb. Mechanical nociceptive threshold values were recorded weekly and correlated with clinical, radiographic, and necropsy scores measured over 10 weeks. Lower MNT values corresponded with increased pain, whereas higher MNT values indicated reduced pain. Results: A gradual increase in MNT values was detected from proximal-to-distal sites of the thoracic limbs. High MNT values were recorded for geldings and tall horses. In general, tolerance to procedure scores was positively correlated with overall pooled MNT values within each thoracic limb. From 2 to 6 weeks after surgery, the osteoarthritic limb had significantly reduced MNT values within the carpal region. The osteoarthritic limb also had significant changes in clinical examination, radiographic, and necropsy scores, which were poorly correlated with MNT values. Conclusions: Pressure algometry provided objective assessment of nociception of the thoracic limb; however, MNT values were poorly correlated with clinical variables used to assess osteoarthritis.
Publication Date: 2007-11-03 PubMed ID: 17975970DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.68.11.1167Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study aimed to establish reference values for the mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) in horses, used to detect pain in a horse’s forelimb, specifically when related to osteoarthritis in the carpal (knee) joint. The MNT measures were poorly correlated with other clinical variables used to assess osteoarthritis, although they provided an objective tool for nociception assessment.
Methodology
- The study involved 24 adult horses, measuring their MNT values, which indicate the level of response to pain, at 17 different sites on each forelimb.
- These measurements were collected during two separate sessions, averaging 5 days apart.
- They assessed the effects of the horse’s age, sex, weight, and wither (shoulder) height on MNT values for each site.
- Horse tolerance was graded subjectively and correlated with MNT values to understand if horse’s discomfort or resistance affected results.
- In the middle carpal joint of one randomly selected limb, osteoarthritis was artificially induced while the other limb served as a control.
- MNT values were recorded weekly, along with clinical, radiographic, and necropsy scores over the course of 10 weeks.
Results
- Lower MNT values were associated with increased pain, while higher MNT values suggested significantly less pain.
- MNT values tended to gradually increase from the top (proximal) to bottom (distal) areas of the limbs.
- Male horses (geldings) and taller horses generally showed higher MNT values.
- Horses’ tolerance to the testing procedure was generally linked with higher total MNT values within each limb.
- From the second to the sixth week after the surgery, there was a significant reduction in MNT values within the carpal region of the limb with induced osteoarthritis.
- While the osteoarthritic limb showed notable changes in clinical examination, radiographic indicators, and necropsy scores, these figures did not correlate well with MNT values.
Conclusions
- While pressure algometry (use of a pressure algometer to measure pain response) offered a systematic approach to measuring nociception (the sensation of pain), MNT values did not align well with other clinical indicators used to evaluate osteoarthritis.
- Therefore, while mechanical nociceptive threshold values can provide valuable insight into detecting pain, their utility in helping diagnose or track progression of osteoarthritis may be limited as per this study.
Cite This Article
APA
Haussler KK, Hill AE, Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW.
(2007).
Determination and use of mechanical nociceptive thresholds of the thoracic limb to assess pain associated with induced osteoarthritis of the middle carpal joint in horses.
Am J Vet Res, 68(11), 1167-1176.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.68.11.1167 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Gail Holmes Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthritis, Experimental / physiopathology
- Arthritis, Experimental / veterinary
- Carpus, Animal / physiopathology
- Female
- Forelimb / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
- Male
- Nociceptors / drug effects
- Osteoarthritis / physiopathology
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Pain Measurement / methods
- Pain Measurement / veterinary
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Rettore Andreis F, Mørch CD, Jensen W, Meijs S. On determining the mechanical nociceptive threshold in pigs: a reliability study. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2023;4:1191786.
- Ask K, Andersen PH, Tamminen LM, Rhodin M, Hernlund E. Performance of four equine pain scales and their association to movement asymmetry in horses with induced orthopedic pain. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:938022.
- Haussler KK. Pressure Algometry for the Detection of Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 24;10(12).
- Zidan N, Medland J, Olby N. Long-term postoperative pain evaluation in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation after hemilaminectomy. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jul;34(4):1547-1555.
- Carcolé M, Zamanillo D, Merlos M, Fernández-Pastor B, Cabañero D, Maldonado R. Blockade of the Sigma-1 Receptor Relieves Cognitive and Emotional Impairments Associated to Chronic Osteoarthritis Pain. Front Pharmacol 2019;10:468.
- Pongratz U, Licka T. Algometry to measure pain threshold in the horse's back - An in vivo and in vitro study. BMC Vet Res 2017 Mar 29;13(1):80.
- Harris LK, Murrell JC, van Klink EG, Whay HR. Influence of experimental protocol on response rate and repeatability of mechanical threshold testing in dogs. Vet J 2015 Apr;204(1):82-7.
- Gigliuto C, De Gregori M, Malafoglia V, Raffaeli W, Compagnone C, Visai L, Petrini P, Avanzini MA, Muscoli C, Viganò J, Calabrese F, Dominioni T, Allegri M, Cobianchi L. Pain assessment in animal models: do we need further studies?. J Pain Res 2014;7:227-36.
- Malfait AM, Little CB, McDougall JJ. A commentary on modelling osteoarthritis pain in small animals. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2013 Sep;21(9):1316-26.
- Janczak AM, Ranheim B, Fosse TK, Hild S, Nordgreen J, Moe RO, Zanella AJ. Factors affecting mechanical (nociceptive) thresholds in piglets. Vet Anaesth Analg 2012 Nov;39(6):628-35.
- Kschonek J, Twele L, Deters K, Miller M, Reinmold J, Emmerich I, Hennig-Pauka I, Kemper N, Kreienbrock L, Wendt M, Kästner S, Grosse Beilage E. Part I: understanding pain in pigs-basic knowledge about pain assessment, measures and therapy. Porcine Health Manag 2025 Mar 11;11(1):12.
- Gisler J, Chiavaccini L, Blum S, Montavon S, Spadavecchia C. Pressure pain mapping of equine distal joints: feasibility and reliability. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2024;5:1342954.
- Watts AE, Nixon AJ, Reesink HL, Cheetham J, Fubini SL, Looney AL. Continuous peripheral neural blockade to alleviate signs of experimentally induced severe forelimb pain in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2011 Apr 15;238(8):1032-9.
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