FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2024-09-21 PubMed ID: 39305393PubMed Central: 1571089DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10548-0Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

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.

References

This article includes 21 references
  1. Banzatto DA, Kronka SN (1995) Experimentação agrícola, 3rd edn. Funep, Jaboticabal
  2. Baxter GM, Sullins KE (2020) The Stifle: Femoropatellar region. In: Baxter GM (ed) Adams and Stashak’s lameness in horses, 7th edn. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, pp 709–724
    doi: 10.1002/9781119276715google scholar: lookup
  3. Bessa SNF, Santos EP, Silveira RAG. Electromyographyc activity of the vastus medialis oblique muscle in female patients with patellofemoral syndrome.. Fisioter E Pesqui 15:157–163.
    doi: 10.1590/S1809-29502008000200008google scholar: lookup
  4. Cheung TK, Warren LK, Lawrence LM, Thompson KN. Electromyographic activity of the long digital extensor muscle in the exercising Thoroughbred horse.. Equine Vet J 30:251–255.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04496.xpubmed: 9622327google scholar: lookup
  5. Chung ELT, Khairuddin NH, Azizan TRPT, Adamu L. Sleeping patterns of horses in selected local horse stables in Malaysia.. J Vet Behav 26:1–4.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2018.03.014google scholar: lookup
  6. De Luca CJ. The use of Surface Electromyography in biomechanics.. J Appl Biomech 13:135–163.
    doi: 10.1123/jab.13.2.135google scholar: lookup
  7. Dumoulin M, Pille F, Desmet P. Upward fixation of the patella in the horse - A retrospective study.. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 20:119–125.
    doi: 10.1160/VCOT-06-01-0004pubmed: 17546213google scholar: lookup
  8. Fails AD (2018) The equine Foot and Passive Stay Apparatus. In: Fails AD, Magee C (eds) Frandson Anatomy & Physiology of Farm Animals, 8th edn. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New Jersey, pp 114–127
  9. Gibson KT, Mcllwraith CW, Park RD, Norrdin RW. Production of patellar lesions by medial patellar desmotomy in normal horses.. Vet Surg 18:466–471.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.1990.tb01128.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  10. Harrison SM, Whitton RC, King M. Forelimb muscle activity during equine locomotion.. J Exp Biol 215:2980–2991.
    doi: 10.1242/jeb.065441pubmed: 22875767google scholar: lookup
  11. Licka T, Frey A, Peham C. Electromyographic activity of the longissimus dorsi muscles in horses when walking on a treadmill.. Vet J 180:71–76.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.11.001pubmed: 18314362google scholar: lookup
  12. Maierl J, Weissengruber C, Peham C, König HE. Static and dynamic.. .
  13. Martins EAN, Silva LCLC, Baccarin RYA. Evaluation of the synovial fluid of the femuropatellar joint after experimental medial patellar desmotomy in horses.. Cienc Rural 37:784–788.
    doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782007000300028google scholar: lookup
  14. Menegazzo EB, Candido LA, Silva BC, Bernardino-Júnior R. Electromyographic evaluation of postural and masticatory muscles in dentist surgeon with and without the practice of physical activity: clinical case report.. Brazilian J Heal Rev 6:8829–8843.
    doi: 10.34119/bjhrv6n3-038google scholar: lookup
  15. Morais AR (2001) Estatística experimental: uma introdução aos delineamentos e análise de experimento, 1st edn. UFLA, Lavras
  16. Noda DKG, Marchetti PH, Vilela-Junior GB. Surface electromyography in studies on the production of force.. Rev CPAQV – Cent Pesqui Avançadas em Qual Vida 6:3–25.
  17. Pimentel-Gomes F (2000) Curso de estatística experimental, 14th edn. Nobel, Piracicaba
  18. Riley CB, Yovich JV. Fracture of the apex of the patella after medical patellar desmotomy in a horse.. Aust Vet J 68:37–39.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1991.tb09845.xpubmed: 2018456google scholar: lookup
  19. Schuurman SO, Kersten W, Weijs WA. The equine hind climb is actively stabilized during standing.. J Anat 202:355–362.
    doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2003.00166.xpubmed: 12739613pmc: 1571089google scholar: lookup
  20. Singh B (2018) The hindlimb of the horse. In: Singh B (ed) Dyce, Sack and Wensing’s textbook of veterinary anatomy, 15th edn. Elsevier, Missouri, pp 612–631
  21. Weir JP, Ayers KM, Lacefield JF, Walsh KL. Mechanomyographic and electromyographic responses during fatigue in humans: influence of muscle length.. Eur J Appl Physiol 81:352–359.
    doi: 10.1007/s004210050054pubmed: 10664096google scholar: lookup

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
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 106,221 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.