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Veterinary research communications2024; doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10548-0

Electromyographic and behavioral analysis of horses submitted to medial patellar desmotomy.

Abstract: The passive stay apparatus works by blocking flexion of the knee and tarsus joints in the horse, preventing muscle fatigue. During ambulation, if this mechanism fails to release, the animal will present upward fixation of the patella, which in severe cases, can only be treated by medial patellar desmotomy (MPD). The objective of this study was to investigate the possible electromyographic and behavioral changes, after the impairment of the passive stay apparatus, in horses who have undergone MPD surgery. Five horses presenting dorsal fixation of the patella underwent electromyographic measurements at preoperatively and immediately postoperatively, 24 h, seven, 14 and 21 days after surgery. The samples were collected on a computerized surface electromyograph designed in accordance with the standards of international society of electrophysiology and kinesiology (ISEK). To capture the signals, electrodes positioned on the tensor fasciae lata, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles were used, bilaterally. These muscles were chosen due to their participation in the passive stay apparatus. The electromyographic signals were collected and processed using a software calibrated to collect data with a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz per channel. The collections took place over 60 min periods, and the results were obtained from the root means square (RMS) analysis. It was noted that the preoperative average of rest in tripedal support was 62%. On the other hand, change in weight bearing member and rest in three limbs in the postoperative period did not occur. This inability to maintain tripedal support in the postoperative period prevents the horse from resting while standing. Furthermore, there was a gradual increase in the need for post-surgical muscle recruitment, resulting in long periods of decubitus due to muscle fatigue, which is less than ideal for such large animals. Therefore, it was concluded that the animals submitted to medial patellar desmotomy, in this study, presented an inability to maintain tripedal support, in addition to a greater need for recruitment of muscle fibers, evidenced by the gradual increase in the electromyographic tracing and total RMS value of the muscles evaluated.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
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Publication Date: 2024-09-21 PubMed ID: 39305393PubMed Central: 1571089DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10548-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research investigates the electromyographic (electrical activity of muscle tissue) and behavioral changes in horses that have undergone medial patellar desmotomy (MPD), a surgery used to treat severe cases of upward fixation of the patella. The goal was to observe potential difficulties in maintaining tripedal support in horses post-operation.

Methodology

  • The study involved five horses that had a dorsal fixation of the patella, a condition where the kneecap slips out of its normal position and cannot be readjusted without surgery. They were monitored at various stages before and after MPD surgery; namely, immediately postoperatively, 24 hours, seven, fourteen, and twenty-one days after the operation.
  • The researchers employed a computerized surface electromyograph to collect samples. This device is designed in line with the standards set by the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology.
  • The electromyographic signals from the muscles involved in the passive stay apparatus (the mechanism in equine anatomy which allows horses to rest while standing) were recorded. These muscles were the tensor fasciae lata, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus, with readings taken bilaterally.
  • The readings were taken over one hour periods, with the signals processed using specialist software set to a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz per channel.

Findings

  • The research revealed that the horses’ preoperative average of resting in tripedal support was 62%. In the postoperative period, there was no change observed in the weight bearing limb and resting in three limbs.
  • This suggests that horses may not be able to maintain tripedal support after MPD surgery, which is their natural mechanism for resting while standing.
  • Moreover, it was observed that following surgery, the horses needed increased muscle involvement, leading to longer recumbent periods due to muscle fatigue, which is not an ideal condition for such large animals.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that horses that underwent MPD surgery presented difficulties in maintaining tripedal support, evidenced by the increased need for muscle fiber recruitment.
  • This reflects in the sustained rise in the electromyographic tracing, indicating that equine patients are likely to suffer from muscle fatigue after such surgeries.

Cite This Article

APA
da Silva NV, Bernardino Júnior R, Nomelini QSS, Pereira GF, Delfiol DJZ, Nogueira GM. (2024). Electromyographic and behavioral analysis of horses submitted to medial patellar desmotomy. Vet Res Commun. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-024-10548-0

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

da Silva, Nayne Vieira
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Bernardino Júnior, Roberto
  • Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Nomelini, Quintiliano Siqueira Schroden
  • Faculty of Mathematics, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Pereira, Gabriella Faria
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Delfiol, Diego José Zanzarini
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Nogueira, Geison Morel
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. geison.nogueira@ufu.br.
  • Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Mato Grosso n.3289 - Bloco 2S. Bairro Umuarama, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, CEP 38405-314, Brazil. geison.nogueira@ufu.br.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. St George L, Nankervis K, Walker V, Maddock C, Robinson A, Sinclair J, Hobbs SJ. A Feasibility Study to Determine Whether Neuromuscular Adaptations to Equine Water Treadmill Exercise Can Be Detected Using Synchronous Surface Electromyography and Kinematic Data. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 1;15(21).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15213189pubmed: 41227519google scholar: lookup
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