Nonsurgical treatment of suprascapular nerve injury in horses: 8 cases (1988-1998).

The study investigates the impact of stall rest on horses with suprascapular nerve injuries, concluding that although recovery may be extended, the overall prognosis for return to normal gait and pre-injury activities is positive.

Methods

• The study uses retrospective case series methodology to analyze eight cases of horses with suprascapular nerve injuries.
• Most of the information, including the history, severity of lameness, muscle atrophy level, gait abnormalities, and results of radiography and electromyography, was extracted from medical records.
• The research treatment applied was stall rest in all cases. Follow-up data encompassing severity of lameness, gait abnormalities, muscle atrophy level, recovery timeline, and outcome were collected through reexaminations at the hospital and phone interviews with owners.

Results

• For four of the horses, the injury cause was certified to be trauma, whereas in the remaining cases, trauma was suspected but not confirmed.
• All the horses presented pronounced instability in the shoulder joint during the weight-bearing phase.
• The data from seven horses was available for follow-up. It was found that instability in the shoulder joint was resolved in all seven horses between 3 to 12 months (average, 7.4 months) post-injury.
• Full muscle recovery of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus was observed in two horses at 15 and 18 months after the injury respectively.
• Two horses used for breeding prior to the injury, and four out of five trained for riding or racing were able to return to their pre-injury activities.

Conclusions

• The study concludes that stall rest as a treatment for horses with suprascapular nerve injuries provides a favourable prognosis for resumption of a normal gait and return to performing regular tasks.
• However, the research also emphasizes that the recovery period could be notably prolonged.