Evaluation of skin sensitivity after shock wave treatment in horses.

The research conducted a study on horses to understand the impact of shock wave treatment on their skin sensitivity. It found that shock wave treatment does not significantly alter skin sensitivity, whereas sedation and local nerve block show noticeable effects.

Research Methodology

• The study involved 18 clinically sound Swiss Warmblood horses. These horses were randomly allocated to three groups and received different amounts and types of shock waves.
• The shock waves were either extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) or radial pressure wave treatment (RPWT).
• Before the application of these treatments, the horses were sedated with xylazine and levomethadone to maintain control and prevent discomfort.
• Shock waves were applied to a specific nerve, called the lateral palmar digital nerve, at the level of the proximal sesamoid bones on one forelimb of each horse.
• Skin sensitivity was then evaluated. This was done by applying an electrical stimulus at the coronary band before and after sedation, and at various time intervals- 4, 24, and 48 hours after the application of ESWT or RPWT.
• On the other forelimb of each horse, skin sensitivity was tested before and after administering an abaxial sesamoid nerve block.

Research Findings

• The results showed no significant changes in skin sensitivity, irrespective of the type of shock wave protocol used.
• The mean reaction thresholds after sedation were found to be more than twice the baseline thresholds. This means that sedation made the horses less sensitive to the nerve stimulus applied.
• After the application of the abaxial sesamoid block, no reaction was recorded in any of the horses, implying that the nerve block resulted in a loss of sensitivity.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that the application of ESWT or RPWT at the palmar digital nerve did not affect the cutaneous sensation located distal to the treated region, even two days after the treatment’s application. This shows that shock wave treatment does not alter skin sensitivity in horses.
• However, both the analgesic effect of sedation and the abaxial sesamoid block had significant impacts on sensitivity to electrical stimuli, although the effects varied among the horses tested.