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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Horses.
Abstract: Depending on the localization of the lesion, spinal cord ataxia is the most common type of ataxia in horses. Most prevalent diagnoses include cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), trauma and equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM). Other causes of ataxia and weakness are associated with infectious causes, trauma and neoplasia. A neurologic examination is indispensable to identify the type of ataxia. In addition, clinical neurophysiology offers tools to locate functional abnormalities in the central and peripheral nervous system. Clinical EMG assessment looks at the lower motoneuron function (LMN) and is used to differentiate between neuropathy in peripheral nerves, which belong to LMNs and myopathy. As LMNs reside in the spinal cord, it is possible to grossly localize lesions in the myelum by muscle examination. Transcranial (tc) stimulation techniques are gaining importance in all areas of medicine to assess the motor function of the spinal cord along the motor tracts to the LMNs. Applications in diagnostics, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM), and evaluation of effects of treatment are still evolving in human medicine and offer new challenges in equine medicine. Tc stimulation techniques comprise transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES). TMS was first applied in horses in 1996 by Mayhew and colleagues and followed by TES. The methods are exchangeable for clinical diagnostic assessment but show a few differences. An outline is given on the principles, current clinical diagnostic applications and challenging possibilities of muscle evoked potentials (MEP) from transcranial stimulation in horses.
Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-07-07 PubMed ID: 35811197DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2022.04.002Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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Summary
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This article discusses the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) to diagnose and study neurological issues in horses, particularly spinal cord ataxia.
Plain Language Summary
The research looks into how brain-stimulating techniques can help diagnose and examine neurological conditions in horses, particularly those affecting balance and coordination.
Research Background
- Spinal cord ataxia, a loss of balance and coordination due to spinal nerve damage, is a common neurological condition in horses.
- Causes of ataxia and weakness in horses include cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), trauma, equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM), infectious causes, and neoplasia.
- Diagnosing these conditions involves a thorough neurological examination to determine the type of ataxia, and tools for clinical neurophysiology to identify functional abnormalities in the nervous system.
Understanding Clinical EMG Assessment
- Clinical EMG (electromyography) assessment specifically examines the function of the lower motoneuron (LMN), which aids in differentiating between peripheral neuropathy (nerve disease) and myopathy (muscle disease).
- As LMNs reside in the spinal cord, muscle examination helps to localize lesions in the myelum (the grey matter in the spinal cord).
Role of Transcranial Stimulation Techniques
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) are brain-stimulating techniques that evaluate the motor function of the spinal cord along the motor tracts to the LMNs.
- These techniques are gaining prominence in both human and equine medicine for diagnostic purposes, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM), and evaluating treatment effects.
- TMS and TES were first applied to horses in 1996, the methods are exchangeable for clinical diagnostic assessment but show some differences.
Current Applications and Future Possibilities
- The article highlights the current clinical diagnostic applications of TMS and TES in horses and explores the potential for further possibilities.
- More specifically, it discusses the utilization and potential of muscle evoked potentials (MEP) from transcranial stimulation in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Journée HL, Journée SL.
(2022).
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Horses.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 38(2), 189-211.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2022.04.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Groningen, Univ Med Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Groningen 9713 GZ, the Netherlands; Department of Orthopedics, Univ Utrecht, Univ Med Ctr Utrecht, PO-box 85500 NL-3508 GA, Utrecht, Netherlands. Electronic address: hljournee@gmail.com.
- Equine Diagnostics, Tergracht 2A, Wijns 9091 BG, the Netherlands; Research Group of Comparative Physiology, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Ataxia / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Humans
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / veterinary
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / methods
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / veterinary
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