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PeerJ2020; 8; e9469; doi: 10.7717/peerj.9469

Mechanical nociceptive assessment of the equine hoof following distal interphalangeal joint intra-articular anesthesia.

Abstract: With the hypothesis that equine dorsal lamellar tissue can be desensitized by anesthesia injection into distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), the objective was to assess the mechanical nociceptive threshold of hoof dorsal lamellae following intra-articular (IA) administration of lidocaine into this joint. Methods: The DIPJ of the forelimbs of six adult healthy horses were injected with either 5 mL of lidocaine, or 5 mL of lactated Ringer's solution. Treatments were randomly distributed, with each forelimb undergoing a single treatment. The hooves were evaluated pre- and post-injection at pre-selected times over 4 h, using a pressure algometry model. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) were recorded for the sole (dorsal, palmarolateral, and palmaromedial regions), coronary band (medial, lateral, and dorsal regions), heel bulbs (medial and lateral), and dorsal lamellar region (2 cm and 4 cm distal to the coronary band). The MNT means were compared over time using the Friedman test and between treatments using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with values of  < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: There were no differences between treatments for any region of the hoof during the evaluation period. However, MNT values indicating analgesia were recorded in the dorsal lamellar region in 50% of hooves following adminstration of lidocaine into the DIPJ. Conclusions: The administration of 5 mL of lidocaine into the DIPJ does not significantly increase the mechanical nociceptive threshold of the equine hoof.
©2020 Malacarne et al.
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Publication Date: 2020-08-11 PubMed ID: 32864201PubMed Central: PMC7427544DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9469Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 examines whether an anesthesia injection into a specific horse joint, the distal interphalangeal joint, can numb the dorsal lamellar tissue in the hoof. Through a series of tests, it becomes clear that lidocaine injection does not significantly increase the hoof’s resistance to mechanical pain.

Objective and Hypothesis

  • The overall aim of this research is to determine whether injecting anesthetic into the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) of a horse can numb the dorsal lamellar tissue within the hoof.
  • The hypothesis was that injecting anesthesia into the DIPJ could desensitize the dorsal lamellar tissue.

Methodology

  • The study involved the DIPJ of the forelimbs of six adult horses.
  • Each forelimb was given a single treatment, which involved injecting either 5 mL of lidocaine, an anesthetic solution, or 5 mL of lactated Ringer’s solution, a non-anesthetic solution. The allocation of treatments was random.
  • Pre- and post-injection evaluations of the hooves were conducted over a four-hour period using a pressure measurement model.
  • Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs), indicators of the hoof’s sensitivity to pain, were measured across different regions of the hoof.

Statistical Analysis

  • MNT means were analyzed over time with the Friedman test to see if there were any significant changes post-injection.
  • The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare treatments and see if lidocaine increased the hoof’s resistance to mechanical pain.
  • Statistical significance was determined by values less than 0.05.

Results

  • The study found no significant differences between treatments for any region of the hoof during the evaluation period.
  • However, numbness indicated by MNT values was recorded in the dorsal lamellar region in half of the hooves following the administration of lidocaine into the DIPJ.

Conclusion

  • Despite some instances of numbness in the dorsal lamellar region, the overall conclusion of the study is that injecting 5 mL of lidocaine into the DIPJ does not significantly increase the mechanical nociceptive threshold of the equine hoof.

Cite This Article

APA
Malacarne BD, Cota LO, Neto ACP, Paz CFR, Dias LA, Corrêa MG, Carvalho AM, Faleiros RR, Xavier ABS. (2020). Mechanical nociceptive assessment of the equine hoof following distal interphalangeal joint intra-articular anesthesia. PeerJ, 8, e9469. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9469

Publication

PeerJ
ISSN: 2167-8359
NlmUniqueID: 101603425
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: e9469
PII: e9469

Researcher Affiliations

Malacarne, Bruno D
  • Equinova Research Group -Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Cota, Leticia O
  • Equinova Research Group -Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Neto, Antônio C P
  • Equinova Research Group -Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Paz, Cahuê F R
  • Centro Universitário INTA-Uninta, Sobral, Ceará, Brazil.
Dias, Lucas A
  • Equinova Research Group -Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Corrêa, Mayara G
  • Equinova Research Group -Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Carvalho, Armando M
  • Equinova Research Group -Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Faleiros, Rafael R
  • Equinova Research Group -Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientìfico e Tecnològico -CNPq, Brasília, Brazil.
Xavier, Andressa B S
  • Equinova Research Group -Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare there are no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Cota LO, Malacarne BD, Dias LA, Neto ACP, Kneipp MLA, Cavalcante MA, Cunha MSLD, Paz CFR, Carvalho AM, Faleiros RR, Xavier ABDS. Mechanical nociceptive assessment of the equine hoof after navicular bursa anesthetic infiltration validated by bursography. PLoS One 2022;17(6):e0269532.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269532pubmed: 35671268google scholar: lookup
  2. Haussler KK. Pressure Algometry for the Detection of Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 24;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122195pubmed: 33255216google scholar: lookup
  3. Scerri T, Lomax S, Thomson P, Kimble B, White P, Govendir M, Clark C, Van der Saag D. Medicated Meloxicam Pellets Reduce Some Indicators of Pain in Disbudded Dairy Calves. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 3;15(11).
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