Mechanical nociceptive thresholds of dorsal laminae in horses after local anaesthesia of the palmar digital nerves or dorsal branches of the digital nerve.
Abstract: We examined the hypothesis that the palmar digital nerves (PDNs), but not the dorsal branches (DBs) of the digital nerves, innervate the sensitive dorsal laminae of the equine foot by evaluating the effects of perineural anaesthesia of the PDNs and DBs separately on pain sensation evoked via mechanical stimulation of the dorsal laminae and other regions of the equine foot. Six clinically normal mares were used in a crossover design. A portable dynamometer was used to evaluate mechanical nociceptive thresholds at different points on the dorsal laminae, bulbs of the heel, coronary band and sole before and after the horses underwent perineural injection of PDNs or DBs with a local anaesthetic solution (treated group) or an isotonic saline solution (control group). Cornified tissue was removed from the sole and the dorsal aspect of the hoof wall before evaluations of mechanical nociceptive thresholds. Anaesthetising PDNs distal to the DBs increased mechanical nociceptive thresholds compared to baseline values (P <0.001) at sites assessed in the dorsal laminae, sole, and the bulbs of the heels. Anaesthetising DBs increased mechanical nociceptive thresholds compared to baseline values (P <0.01) only at sites assessed at the most proximal aspect of the foot (i.e., coronary band sites). In conclusion, PDNs, not DBs, are primarily responsible for pain signal transmission evoked by pressure in the dorsal laminae of the foot of clinically normal horses.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2016-05-11 PubMed ID: 27387735DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.05.005Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research explores the function of different nerve sets in the foot of horses regarding pain transmission. The study concluded that the palmar digital nerves (PDNs), not the dorsal branches (DBs) of the digital nerves, primarily transmit pain signals evoked by pressure in the sensitive dorsal laminae of the horse’s foot.
Objective of the Research
- This research investigated whether the palmar digital nerves (PDNs), instead of the dorsal branches (DBs) of the digital nerves, innervate the sensitive dorsal laminae of a horse’s foot.
- The researchers aimed to understand the biological mechanism of pain sensation invoked by mechanical stimulation on different regions in a horse’s foot including the dorsal laminae, bulbs of the heel, coronary band, and sole.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted using six clinically normal mares in a crossover design.
- To assess mechanical pain boundaries, a portable dynamometer was used.
- The measurements were performed before and after the horses received perineural injections of PDNs or DBs, using either a local anaesthetic solution (in the treated group) or an isotonic saline solution (in the control group).
- For accurate measurement of the nociceptive thresholds, the cornified tissue was extracted from the sole and the dorsal aspect of the hoof wall.
Findings of the Research
- Post-anaesthesia of PDNs (distal to DBs) significantly increased the horses’ mechanical nociceptive thresholds contrasted to baseline values at all the evaluated locations, including the dorsal laminae, sole, and the bulbs of the heels.
- By contrast, anaesthesia of DBs led to an increase in pain thresholds only at the most proximal aspect of the foot, specifically the coronary band sites.
Conclusion of the Research
- The study concludes that when it comes to pain transmission due to pressure exposure on the dorsal laminae of a horse’s foot, PDNs play a predominant role rather than DBs.
Cite This Article
APA
Paz CF, Magalhães JF, Mendes HM, Rocha Junior S, Belknap JK, Alves GE, Faleiros RR.
(2016).
Mechanical nociceptive thresholds of dorsal laminae in horses after local anaesthesia of the palmar digital nerves or dorsal branches of the digital nerve.
Vet J, 214, 102-108.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2016.05.005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627 Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627 Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627 Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627 Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon Tharp St., Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627 Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, School of Veterinary, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 6627 Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fellow, SHIS QI 1 Conjunto B - Blocos A, B, C e D Lago Sul, Brasília, DF 71605-001, Brazil. Electronic address: faleirosufmg@gmail.com.
MeSH Terms
- Anesthesia, Local / veterinary
- Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
- Animals
- Cross-Over Studies
- Female
- Foot / physiology
- Hoof and Claw / innervation
- Horses / physiology
- Nociception / drug effects
- Pain / veterinary
- Peripheral Nerves / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Lima MPA, Silva RA, Duarte PC, Rocha Júnior SDS, Branco SEMT, Paz CFR, Otero PE, Faleiros RR, Beier SL. Effects of two different topographic approaches for combined sciatic and femoral nerve block in calves, guided by ultrasound and neurostimulation. Vet Anim Sci 2023 Dec;22:100315.
- de Lima MPA, Silva RA, Duarte PC, Otero PE, Faleiros RR, Beier SL. Differential blockade, comparative study of different ropivacaine concentrations (0.75%; 0.2%; 0.12%) for ultrasound guided sciatic and femoral nerve blocks in calves: Prospective cross-over study. Vet Anim Sci 2023 Dec;22:100314.
- 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.
- Haussler KK. Pressure Algometry for the Detection of Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 24;10(12).
- Malacarne BD, Cota LO, Neto ACP, Paz CFR, Dias LA, Corrêa MG, Carvalho AM, Faleiros RR, Xavier ABS. Mechanical nociceptive assessment of the equine hoof following distal interphalangeal joint intra-articular anesthesia. PeerJ 2020;8:e9469.
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