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Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire2011; 74(4); 305-313;

Sensory nerve conduction and nociception in the equine lower forelimb during perineural bupivacaine infusion along the palmar nerves.

Abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to study lateral palmar nerve (LPN) and medial palmar nerve (MPN) morphology and determine nociception and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) following placement of continuous peripheral nerve block (CPNB) catheters along LPN and MPN with subsequent bupivacaine (BUP) infusion. Myelinated nerve fiber distribution in LPN and MPN was examined after harvesting nerve specimens in 3 anesthetized horses and processing them for morphometric analysis. In 5 sedated horses, CPNB catheters were placed along each PN in both forelimbs. Horses then received in one forelimb 3 mL 0.125% BUP containing epinephrine 1:200 000 and 0.04% NaHCO(3) per catheter site followed by 2 mL/h infusion over a 6-day period, while in the other forelimb equal amounts of saline (SAL) solution were administered. The hoof withdrawal response (HWR) threshold during pressure loading of the area above the dorsal coronary band was determined daily in both forelimbs. On day 6 SNCV was measured under general anesthesia of horses in each limb's LPN and MPN to detect nerve injury, followed by CPNB catheter removal. The SNCV was also recorded in 2 anesthetized non-instrumented horses (sham controls). In both LPN and MPN myelinated fiber distributions were bimodal. The fraction of large fibers (>7 μm) was greater in the MPN than LPN (P < 0.05). Presence of CPNB catheters and SAL administration did neither affect measured HWR thresholds nor SNCVs, whereas BUP infusion suppressed HWRs. In conclusion, CPNB with 0.125% BUP provides pronounced analgesia by inhibiting sensory nerve conduction in the distal equine forelimb. L’objectif de cette étude était d’étudier la morphologie du nerf palmaire latérale (LPN) et médiale (MPN) et de déterminer la nociception et la vélocité de conduction du nerf sensitif (SNCV) suite à la mise en place de cathéters pour un bloc continu du nerf périphérique (CPNB) le long de LPN et MPN avec des infusions subséquentes de buvicaïne (BUP). La distribution des fibres nerveuses myélinisées dans LPN et MPN a été examinée après la récolte de spécimens de nerf chez 3 chevaux anesthésiés et en les traitant pour analyse morphométrique. Chez 5 chevaux sous sédation, des cathéters CPNB ont été placés le long de chaque PN dans les deux pattes antérieures. Les chevaux ont par la suite reçu dans une des pattes avant 3 mL de BUP 0,125 % contenant de l’épinéphrine 1:200,000 et 0,04 % de NaHCO3 par site de cathéterisation suivi par une infusion à raison de 2 mL/h pendant une période de 6 jours, alors que dans l’autre patte avant des volumes égaux de saline (SAL) étaient administrés. Le seuil de réponse du retrait du sabot (HWR) pendant une charge de pression de la région au-dessus de la bande coronaire dorsale a été déterminé quotidiennement pour les deux pattes avant. Au jour 6 la SNCV du LPN et MPN de chaque membre a été mesurée sous anesthésie générale des chevaux afin de détecter des dommages nerveux, suivi du retrait du cathéter du CPNB. La SNCV a également été enregistrée chez 2 chevaux anesthésiés non-instrumentés (témoins simulés). La distribution des fibres myélinisées dans les LPN et MPN était bimodale. La fraction fibres larges (>7 μm) était plus grande dans le MPN comparativement au LPN (P < 0,05). La présence de cathéters CPNB et l’administration de SAL n’a nullement affecté les seuils mesurés de HWR ni de SNCV, alors que l’infusion de BUP a supprimé les HWR. En conclusion, un CPNB avec 0,125 % de BUP fourni une analgésie prononcée en inhibant la conduction des nerfs sensitifs dans la patte avant équine distale. (Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier)
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Publication Date: 2011-01-05 PubMed ID: 21197231PubMed Central: PMC2949344
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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.

This research aims to study the effect of continuous peripheral nerve block (CPNB) with bupivacaine infusion on sensory nerve conduction velocity and nociception in the lateral and medial palmar nerves of a horse’s lower forelimb. The study found that this method provides significant pain relief by inhibiting sensory nerve conduction.

Methodology

  • The study involved morphological analysis of the lateral palmar nerve (LPN) and medial palmar nerve (MPN) by examining myelinated nerve fiber distribution in these nerves. The nerve samples were taken from 3 anesthetized horses.
  • In 5 other sedated horses, CPNB catheters were inserted along each palmar nerve in both forelimbs.
  • One forelimb was given bupivacaine with epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate, while the other was administered with saline solution. This was followed by an infusion over a course of 6 days.
  • The researchers monitored the hoof withdrawal response (HWR), a measure of nociception or pain sensation, daily in both forelimbs.
  • On the sixth day, the researchers measured sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) under general anesthesia to detect any possible nerve damage.
  • The setup was replicated in another pair of anesthetized non-instrumented horses as sham control.

Results

  • Both LPN and MPN exhibited bimodal distribution of myelinated fibers. The MPN had a significantly higher proportion of larger fibers (>7 μm) than the LPN.
  • The presence of CPNB catheters and administration of saline solution did not affect the HWR thresholds or SNCVs.
  • However, the infusion of bupivacaine led to a suppression of HWRs, implying a decrease in pain sensation.

Conclusion

  • The findings suggest that using a continuous peripheral nerve block with 0.125% bupivacaine can provide significant analgesia by inhibiting sensory nerve conduction in the distal equine forelimb.
  • This could be a potential method for pain relief in equine veterinary practices.

Cite This Article

APA
Zarucco L, Driessen B, Scandella M, Cozzi F, Cantile C. (2011). Sensory nerve conduction and nociception in the equine lower forelimb during perineural bupivacaine infusion along the palmar nerves. Can J Vet Res, 74(4), 305-313.

Publication

Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire
ISSN: 1928-9022
NlmUniqueID: 8607793
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 74
Issue: 4
Pages: 305-313

Researcher Affiliations

Zarucco, Laura
  • Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy.
Driessen, Bernd
    Scandella, Massimiliano
      Cozzi, Francesca
        Cantile, Carlo

          MeSH Terms

          • Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
          • Animals
          • Bupivacaine / administration & dosage
          • Female
          • Forelimb / innervation
          • Horses / physiology
          • Male
          • Nerve Block / methods
          • Nerve Block / veterinary
          • Neural Conduction / drug effects
          • Neural Conduction / physiology
          • Pain / drug therapy
          • Pain / veterinary
          • Peripheral Nerves / physiology
          • Peripheral Nerves / ultrastructure
          • Statistics, Nonparametric
          • Video Recording

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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. Journée SL, Journée HL, Berends HI, Reed SM, de Bruijn CM, Delesalle CJG. Comparison of Muscle MEPs From Transcranial Magnetic and Electrical Stimulation and Appearance of Reflexes in Horses. Front Neurosci 2020;14:570372.
            doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.570372pubmed: 33122992google scholar: lookup
          3. 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.
            doi: 10.7717/peerj.9469pubmed: 32864201google scholar: lookup
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