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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can J Vet Res / Epidural analgesia with morphine or buprenorphine in ponies ...
Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire2011; 75(2); 141-146;

Epidural analgesia with morphine or buprenorphine in ponies with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced carpal synovitis.

Abstract: This study evaluated the analgesia effects of the epidural administration of 0.1 mg/kg bodyweight (BW) of morphine or 5 μg/kg BW of buprenorphine in ponies with radiocarpal joint synovitis. Six ponies were submitted to 3 epidural treatments: the control group (C) received 0.15 mL/kg BW of a 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution; group M was administered 0.1 mg/kg BW of morphine; and group B was administered 5 μg/kg BW of buprenorphine, both diluted in 0.9% NaCl to a total volume of 0.15 mL/kg BW administered epidurally at 10 s/mL. The synovitis model was induced by injecting 0.5 ng of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the left or right radiocarpal joint. An epidural catheter was later introduced in the lumbosacral space and advanced up to the thoracolumbar level. The treatment started 6 h after synovitis induction. Lameness, maximum angle of carpal flexion, heart rate, systolic arterial pressure, respiratory rate, temperature, and intestinal motility were evaluated before LPS injection (baseline), 6 h after LPS injection (time 0), and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 24 h after treatments. Although the model of synovitis produced clear clinical signs of inflammation, the lameness scores in group C were different from the baseline for only up to 12 h. Both morphine and buprenorphine showed a reduction in the degree of lameness starting at 0.5 and 6 h, respectively. Reduced intestinal motility was observed at 0.5 h in group M and at 0.5 to 1 h in group B. Epidural morphine was a more effective analgesic that lasted for more than 12 h and without side effects. It was concluded that morphine would be a valuable analgesic option to alleviate joint pain in the thoracic limbs in ponies. La présente étude visait à évaluer les effets analgésiques de l’administration épidurale de 0,1 mg/kg de poids corporel (BW) de morphine ou de 5 μg/kg de BW de buprenorphine chez des poneys avec une synovite de l’articulation radio-carpienne. Six poneys ont été soumis à 3 traitements par épidurale : le groupe témoin (C) a reçu 0,15 mL/kg de BW d’une solution de 0,9 % de chlorure de sodium (NaCl); le groupe M a reçu 0,1 mg/kg de BW de morphine; et le groupe B a reçu 5 μg/kg de BW de buprenorphine, les deux dilués dans une solution de 0,9 % de NaCl pour atteindre un volume total de 0,15 mL/kg de BW administré par voie épidurale au rythme de 10 s/mL. Le modèle de synovite était induit en injectant 0,5 ng de lipopolysaccharide (LPS) dans l’articulation radio-carpienne gauche ou droite. Un cathéter épidural était plus tard introduit dans l’espace lombo-sacré et avancé jusqu’au niveau thoraco-lombaire. Le traitement commença 6 h après l’induction de la synovite. La présence de boiterie, l’angle maximal de flexion carpienne, le rythme cardiaque, la pression artérielle systolique, le rythme respiratoire, la température et la motilité intestinale ont été évalués avant l’injection de LPS (niveau de base), 6 h après l’injection de LPS (temps 0), et 0,5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20 et 24 h après les traitements. Bien que le modèle de synovite ait induit des signes cliniques évidents d’inflammation, les pointages de boiterie pour le groupe C étaient différents du niveau de base seulement jusqu’à 12 h. Autant la morphine que la buprenorphine ont induit une réduction du degré de boiterie débutant respectivement à 0,5 h et 6 h. Une réduction de la motilité intestinale a été observée après 0,5 h dans le groupe M et aux temps 0,5 et 1 h dans le groupe B. La morphine épidurale était un analgésique plus efficace qui dura plus longtemps que 12 h et ce sans effet secondaire. En conclusion, la morphine serait une option valable pour l’analgésie afin de diminuer la douleur articulaire dans les membres thoraciques chez les poneys. (Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier)
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Publication Date: 2011-07-07 PubMed ID: 21731186PubMed Central: PMC3062925
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  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • 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 pain-relieving effects of giving morphine or buprenorphine via an epidural to ponies suffering from synovitis in the joint of the wrists. The study finds morphine to be a better and safer option in reducing pain for more than twelve hours.

Objective of The Research

  • This study aims to assess the analgesic effects of the epidural administration of two different drugs, morphine, and buprenorphine, in ponies that have synovitis in their radiocarpal (wrist) joint. It intends to discover the most effective short-term treatment to alleviate this type of pain.

Methodology of The Research

  • The researchers used a total of six ponies for the experiment which were subjected to three different treatments. The treatments included a control group that was given a saline solution, one group treated with morphine, and one final group treated with buprenorphine.
  • Synovitis was artificially induced in the ponies by injecting a substance known as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the left or right radiocarpal joint.
  • Then, 6 hours after the induction of synovitis, an epidural catheter was introduced into the lumbosacral space of the ponies and was directed towards the thoracolumbar level. The medications were then administered through this catheter.
  • To track the effects of the drugs, the health parameters of the ponies, such as lameness, heart rate, arterial pressure, respiratory rate, temperature, and intestinal motility, were observed at different time intervals.

Findings of The Research

  • The results showed that distinct signs of inflammation were observed, but the lameness varied from baseline measures up to 12 hours only in the control group ponies that received saline.
  • Both the morphine and buprenorphine were successful in reducing the degree of lameness in the ponies in the early stages, starting at 0.5 and 6 hours respectively.
  • However, there was a decrease in intestinal motility in both the morphine and buprenorphine groups shortly after administration.
  • Morphine showed a more sustained impact on pain relief, lasting longer than 12 hours. Moreover, no side effects were observed in ponies that received morphine treatment, making it a safer option for addressing joint pain in ponies.

Cite This Article

APA
Freitas GC, Carregaro AB, Gehrcke MI, De La Côrte FD, Lara VM, Pozzobon R, Brass KE. (2011). Epidural analgesia with morphine or buprenorphine in ponies with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced carpal synovitis. Can J Vet Res, 75(2), 141-146.

Publication

Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire
ISSN: 1928-9022
NlmUniqueID: 8607793
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 75
Issue: 2
Pages: 141-146

Researcher Affiliations

Freitas, Gabrielle C
  • Rural Science Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Carregaro, Adriano B
    Gehrcke, Martielo I
      De La Côrte, Flávio D
        Lara, Valéria M
          Pozzobon, Ricardo
            Brass, Karin E

              MeSH Terms

              • Analgesia, Epidural / veterinary
              • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
              • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
              • Animals
              • Buprenorphine / administration & dosage
              • Buprenorphine / therapeutic use
              • Carpal Joints
              • Female
              • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
              • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
              • Horses
              • Lameness, Animal / chemically induced
              • Lameness, Animal / drug therapy
              • Lipopolysaccharides
              • Male
              • Morphine / administration & dosage
              • Morphine / therapeutic use
              • Pain / chemically induced
              • Pain / drug therapy
              • Pain / veterinary
              • Pain Measurement / veterinary
              • Synovitis / chemically induced
              • Synovitis / drug therapy
              • Synovitis / veterinary

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              Citations

              This article has been cited 5 times.
              1. Douglas H, Midon M, Shroff K, Floriano D, Driessen B, Hopster K. Caudal epidural catheterization for pain management in 48 hospitalized horses: A descriptive study of demographics, complications, and outcomes. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:995299.
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              2. 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.
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              3. Carregaro AB, Freitas GC, Ribeiro MH, Xavier NV, Dória RG. Physiological and analgesic effects of continuous-rate infusion of morphine, butorphanol, tramadol or methadone in horses with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced carpal synovitis. BMC Vet Res 2014 Dec 21;10:966.
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              4. 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.
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              5. Ask K, Rhodin M, Rashid-Engström M, Hernlund E, Andersen PH. Changes in the equine facial repertoire during different orthopedic pain intensities. Sci Rep 2024 Jan 2;14(1):129.
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