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Journal of equine science2021; 32(4); 103-115; doi: 10.1294/jes.32.103

Ultrasound-guided injections of the equine head and neck: review and expert opinion.

Abstract: Ultrasound-guided injections can be used for a wide variety of conditions in the horse, including both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Benefits of ultrasound guidance include more accurate deposition of injectate compared with blind approaches. Improved identification of vital structures, including nerves and blood vessels, allows their avoidance and thus reduces procedure-associated complications. Validation of such ultrasound-guided techniques has shown that they can be easily learnt by inexperienced veterinarians, assuming a proper knowledge of the sonographic anatomy. In many cases they can be employed in the field with a high level of accuracy, using widely available equipment, and with complete adherence to the sterility principles. Many ultrasound-guided injection techniques of the axial skeleton in the horse have been described in past years, enabling the equine veterinarian to perform more accurate treatments of specific anatomical areas. The goal of this review is to discuss diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound-guided injection techniques of the skull and cervical spine in the horse, including those for the retrobulbar space, maxillary and inferior alveolar nerves, atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial junctions, and cervical articular process joints, as well as the 1st cervical nerve, the C2 and C3 nerve plexus, and the 6th, 7th, and 8th cervical nerve roots.
©2021 The Japanese Society of Equine Science.
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Publication Date: 2021-12-28 PubMed ID: 35023988PubMed Central: PMC8731684DOI: 10.1294/jes.32.103Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research article is a review of the uses of ultrasound-guided injections for treating various conditions in the structure of a horse’s head and neck, demonstrating how accurate injection placement and decreased safety risks make this a beneficial method for inexperienced veterinarians.

Overview of Ultrasound-Guided Injections

  • This study investigates the potential of ultrasound-guided injections to treat a variety of conditions in horses. These injections have both therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
  • The benefits of using ultrasound-guided injections are that they allow for more accurate placement of the injection compared to non-guided methods. This is of crucial importance when attempting to avoid major blood vessels and nerves, thereby reducing potential complications from treatment.

Technique Validation

  • The article confirms that, given a proper knowledge of sonographic anatomy, these ultrasound-guided techniques can be easily learned by inexperienced veterinarians. The learning of the technique can contribute to more precise treatments and improve patient outcomes.

Practicality and Equipment

  • A major advantage of these techniques is that they can be applied in the field with a high level of accuracy. They require widely available equipment and do not complicate adherence to sterility principles, making them a practical and efficient choice for veterinarians.

Specific Injection Techniques

  • Several ultrasound-guided injection techniques targeting the skull and cervical spine in horses have been detailed previously. This study provides a review and analysis of these techniques, including injections targeting the retrobulbar space, maxillary and inferior alveolar nerves, atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial junctions, cervical articular process joints, and cervical nerves.

Take-home Message

  • This study emphasises the value of ultrasound-guided injections in equine treatment, detailing the accuracy, safety, and educational values of these methods. It also reviews various techniques to enhance understanding and application of these treatments in the equine veterinary field.

Cite This Article

APA
Johnson JP, Vinardell T, David F. (2021). Ultrasound-guided injections of the equine head and neck: review and expert opinion. J Equine Sci, 32(4), 103-115. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.32.103

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 4
Pages: 103-115

Researcher Affiliations

Johnson, Jessica P
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center, A Member of Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 6788, Doha, Qatar.
Vinardell, Tatiana
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center, A Member of Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 6788, Doha, Qatar.
  • College of Health & Life Science, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, A Member of Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar.
David, Florent
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center, A Member of Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 6788, Doha, Qatar.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Hamed MA, Hamouda H, Elmetwally M, Farrag F, Rizk MA, Abumandour MMA, Hegazy YM, Samy A. Comparative experimental anesthesia efficacy study of epidural injection at the sacrococcygeal space using ultrasound guidance versus blindness technique in Egyptian donkeys (Equus asinus). BMC Vet Res 2025 Feb 7;21(1):57.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04475-8pubmed: 39920670google scholar: lookup
  2. Davidson EJ, Stefanovski D, Slack J, Manzi TJ. Ultrasound-guided caudal cervical articular process arthrocentesis is accurate in live horses with and without arthropathy. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):398-405.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14133pubmed: 38989893google scholar: lookup
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