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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation and Pulsed Radiofr...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(16); 2341; doi: 10.3390/ani15162341

Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation and Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment for Chronic Lameness Due to Distal Forelimb Disease in Horses: A Pilot Study.

Abstract: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) are non-pharmacological techniques employed in humans for chronic pain, but their veterinary application is unexplored. This pilot study evaluated clinical effects of RFA and PRF in twenty-four horses with chronic distal forelimb lameness. Ultrasound-guided RFA (N = 8; 60-90 °C, 2-8 min) or PRF (N = 16; 42 °C; 12 min) was applied to palmar digital nerves. Lameness was scored (American Association of Equine Practitioners scale) at baseline and monthly for six months (T1-T6). At T2, partial- and non-responders in both groups received PRF. Complications and return to previous work were recorded. At T2, the PRF group had significantly lower lameness scores (1, 0-3) than the RFA group (3, 2-4; < 0.001) and significantly improved from baseline (3, 2-4; < 0.01). RFA caused more complications (N = 6) than PRF (N = 1; < 0.001), including increased lameness and allodynia. Sixteen horses (RFA: N = 7; PRF: N = 9) were retreated at T2. Overall, lameness significantly improved from T2 (2, 0-4) to T6 (0, 0-3; < 0.001). At T6, 83% (19/23) of horses resumed previous work. RFA was ineffective and caused complications, whereas PRF appeared safer and more effective. Two PRF treatments yielded better outcomes with fewer side effects and may help manage lameness and associated pain for up to six months.
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Publication Date: 2025-08-10 PubMed ID: 40867669PubMed Central: PMC12383019DOI: 10.3390/ani15162341Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

Objective Overview

  • This study investigated the use of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatments to manage chronic lameness caused by distal forelimb disease in horses.
  • The research compared the effectiveness and safety of RFA and PRF procedures over a six-month period to assess improvements in lameness and complications.

Introduction and Background

  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) are techniques widely used in human medicine to treat chronic pain without drugs.
  • RFA involves heating nerve tissue to high temperatures (60-90 °C) to destroy nerve fibers, while PRF applies lower temperatures (around 42 °C) with pulses to modulate pain signals without causing significant nerve damage.
  • These approaches had not been explored previously for veterinary use to treat lameness in horses, which is often caused by chronic distal forelimb diseases resulting in persistent pain.

Study Design and Methods

  • The study was a pilot clinical trial involving 24 horses with chronic lameness localized to the distal forelimb.
  • Horses were divided into two groups: 8 horses received ultrasound-guided RFA and 16 horses received PRF treatment. The procedure targeted the palmar digital nerves responsible for sensation in the affected limb.
  • RFA treatment parameters: temperature ranging between 60-90 °C for 2 to 8 minutes.
  • PRF treatment parameters: fixed temperature of 42 °C for 12 minutes, to avoid nerve damage.
  • Lameness severity was assessed using the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) scale at the start of the study (baseline) and monthly thereafter for 6 months (designated as T1-T6).
  • At the two-month mark (T2), horses who showed partial or no response to their initial treatment were given a subsequent PRF treatment, regardless of their initial group.
  • Researchers recorded any complications during or following the treatments and noted whether horses were able to return to their previous level of work by study end.

Key Results

  • At the two-month evaluation (T2):
    • The PRF group showed significantly lower lameness scores (median of 1 on the AAEP scale) compared to the RFA group (median of 3), indicating better clinical improvement.
    • The PRF group’s lameness level was significantly improved from their baseline scores, demonstrating treatment effectiveness.
    • The RFA group did not show similar improvements and experienced more complications.
  • Complications in the RFA group included increased lameness and allodynia (heightened sensitivity to pain), occurring in 6 horses, whereas only 1 horse in the PRF group experienced complications.
  • Sixteen horses received the second PRF treatment at T2: 7 from the RFA group and 9 from the PRF group.
  • Over the subsequent months (T2 to T6), overall lameness scores improved significantly across all horses, with median lameness reducing to 0 at T6.
  • By the end of the six-month period, 83% (19 out of 23 horses) successfully returned to their previous work, indicating a positive functional outcome.

Conclusions and Implications

  • RFA was found to be largely ineffective in managing chronic distal forelimb lameness in horses and was associated with a higher risk of complications.
  • Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment appeared safer and provided better clinical outcomes with fewer side effects.
  • Two PRF treatments administered two months apart resulted in sustained improvement of lameness and pain management for up to six months.
  • PRF could be a valuable non-pharmacological tool in veterinary medicine for treating chronic lamness and associated pain in horses, potentially improving welfare and return to function.

Study Limitations and Future Directions

  • As a pilot study with a relatively small sample size, further larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.
  • Longer-term follow-up would help define the duration of pain relief and effectiveness of repeated treatments.
  • Comparative studies with other treatment modalities would clarify the precise role of PRF in veterinary lameness management.
  • Additional investigation into the underlying mechanisms of PRF’s pain modulation in horses could optimize protocols and improve outcomes.

Cite This Article

APA
Amari M, Brioschi FA, Auletta L, Ravasio G. (2025). Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation and Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment for Chronic Lameness Due to Distal Forelimb Disease in Horses: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel), 15(16), 2341. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15162341

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 16
PII: 2341

Researcher Affiliations

Amari, Martina
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences-DIVAS, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Brioschi, Federica Alessandra
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences-DIVAS, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Auletta, Luigi
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences-DIVAS, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Ravasio, Giuliano
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences-DIVAS, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.

Grant Funding

  • APC / Università degli Studi di Milano

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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