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Veterinary surgery : VS2022; 51(7); 1070-1077; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13847

Efficacy of a commercial dry sleeve cryotherapy system for cooling the equine metacarpus.

Abstract: To determine the ability of a commercial cryotherapy system (Game Ready Equine) to cool the metacarpal subcutaneous tissue and the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in horses. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Six healthy adult horses. Methods: Thermocouples were implanted into the metacarpal subcutaneous tissues and the SDFT of six horses. Two treatments (cryotherapy or cryotherapy with 5-50 mmHg intermittent compression) were randomly assigned to forelimbs and performed for 20 minutes. Temperatures were compared to the target range of 10-19°C and between groups. Results: Only one limb in the cryotherapy/compression group reached the target range after cryotherapy. Temperatures did not differ between treatment groups at time 0. Lowest temperatures achieved in the subcutaneous tissue (p = .0043) and SDFT (p = .005) were 4.9 and 7.6°C lower when intermittent compression was applied. Similarly, applying compression induced a maximum change in temperature of approximately 7.0°C in the subcutaneous tissue (p = .014) and 10.2°C in the SDFT (p = .0001). Conclusions: The cryotherapy system did not cool equine subcutaneous tissue or SDFT to the target temperature range, except in one limb. Combining cryotherapy with intermittent compression did result in lower temperatures and a greater change in temperature of the subcutaneous tissue and SDFT. Conclusions: When using this cryotherapy system, the addition of intermittent compression should be considered to achieve lower temperatures and potentially greater reduction in inflammation. Further studies are warranted to determine the effect of longer treatment times, higher compression settings, and the optimal temperature for benefits in normal and diseased equine tissues.
© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2022-07-14 PubMed ID: 35834384PubMed Central: PMC9796254DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13847Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study aimed to test the effectiveness of a commercial cryotherapy system in cooling the metacarpal subcutaneous tissues and superficial digital flexor tendon in horses. The findings showed that the system did not cool these tissues to the targeted temperature range, except in one instance. However, combining the cryotherapy with intermittent compression resulted in lower temperatures and a greater temperature change in the tissues.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The study used an experimental design involving six healthy adult horses. Thermocouples, a device used to measure temperature, were implanted into the metacarpal subcutaneous tissues and the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of the horses.
  • Two treatments were assigned randomly to the forelimbs of the horses: cryotherapy alone and cryotherapy combined with 5-50 mmHg intermittent compression. Each treatment continued for 20 minutes.
  • The temperatures achieved were then compared to a target range of 10-19°C and also compared between the treatment groups.

Results of the Experiment

  • Only one horse in the group receiving cryotherapy combined with compression reached the target temperature range after the treatment.
  • There were no significant differences between the temperatures of the treatment groups at the start of the experiment.
  • When intermittent compression was added to cryotherapy, the lowest temperatures achieved in the subcutaneous tissue and SDFT were significantly lower, showing a decrease of 4.9 and 7.6°C respectively.
  • Applying compression resulted in a maximum temperature change of approximately 7.0°C in the subcutaneous tissue and 10.2°C in the SDFT.

Conclusion and Further Research

  • Based on the results, the use of the cryotherapy system alone did not cool the equine subcutaneous tissue or SDFT to the desired temperature range, apart from in one case.
  • However, when the cryotherapy was combined with intermittent compression, it resulted in lower temperatures and a greater change in temperature in the tissues.
  • Given this outcome, the researchers concluded that when using this cryotherapy system, the addition of intermittent compression should be considered to achieve lower temperatures and potentially a greater reduction in inflammation.
  • Further research is needed to investigate the impact of longer treatment times, higher compression settings, and the optimal temperature for benefits in both normal and diseased equine tissues.

Cite This Article

APA
Jacobs CC, O'Neil E, Prange T. (2022). Efficacy of a commercial dry sleeve cryotherapy system for cooling the equine metacarpus. Vet Surg, 51(7), 1070-1077. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13847

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 7
Pages: 1070-1077

Researcher Affiliations

Jacobs, Carrie C
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
O'Neil, Erin
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Prange, Timo
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cryotherapy / veterinary
  • Forelimb
  • Horses
  • Metacarpal Bones
  • Metacarpus
  • Tendons

Grant Funding

  • North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests or any personal or financial affiliations with the products used in this project.

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