Is Electrical Nerve Stimulation the Answer for Management of Equine Headshaking?

The research article explores how Electrical Nerve Stimulation (ENS) can be used to manage headshaking in horses, which is suspected to be caused by trigeminal neuralgia. It examines the use of a specific ENS program in horses and its success rates. It is also suggested that electroacupuncture could be a useful management tool and further research is needed to optimize ENS procedures.

Introduction to the Problem

• The study involves horses suffering from a condition known as Trigeminal Mediated Headshaking (TMHS). This condition results from the decreased activation threshold of the trigeminal nerve in horses.
• The clinical signs of this condition are suspected to be akin to those of trigeminal neuralgia in humans.

Electrical Nerve Stimulation and its Role

• Electrical Nerve Stimulation (ENS) is prominently used to manage neuralgia in humans, and the study explores whether it can also be used in managing TMHS in horses.
• The ENS is believed to work via a mechanism known as gate control theory, which essentially suggests that non-painful input closes the nerve “gates” to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from travelling to the central nervous system.
• An “equine specific percutaneous ENS program” was utilized in over 130 TMHS horses.

Results and Findings

• The study observed a success rate of approximately 50%. This meant that half of the horses returned to their previous work post treatment, indicating that ENS alleviates the symptoms of TMHS and improves the horses’ functionality.
• Moreover, the study suggested that electroacupuncture, another method of pain management, might also prove useful in managing TMHS.

Areas of Further Research

• The study concludes by stating that optimizing ENS procedures for managing THMS would likely require a comprehensive understanding of the etiopathogenesis of the aberrant neurophysiology inherent in this condition.
• This essentially implies that a more in-depth understanding of the root cause of nerve irregularities associated with TMHS could lead to better stimulation strategies and hence, improved outcomes in the treatment of affected horses.