Use of a poll-mounted accelerometer for quantification and characterisation of equine trigeminal-mediated headshaking.
Abstract: Equine trigeminal-mediated (TGM) headshaking (HS) is a neuropathic facial pain syndrome characterised by varying intensity and frequencies of head movements and signs of nasal irritation. An accurate method for quantification and/or characterisation of HS severity is lacking. Objective: To develop and validate an objective measure of TGMHS. Methods: Prospective case control study. Methods: Horses presenting for investigation of HS were recruited alongside those presenting for forelimb lameness (LAME) and pre-purchase examination as well as healthy controls (CONTROL). Head movement data were collected for 5 min whilst trotting on the lunge using a tri-axial accelerometer, with a range of ±16 g and sampling rate of 800 Hz, attached to the bridle headpiece. Recordings were exported for processing. Peak detection was performed using minimum and maximum thresholds of -1 g and +1 g (corrected for gravity) and a minimum peak width of 10 samples. Results: Fifty-six horses were included in the study; 18 TGMHS, 10 non-TGMHS, 12 LAME and 16 CONTROL. Characteristics and frequency of vertical (Z axis) head movements of TGMHS horses differed significantly from other horses. TGMHS horses had peaks with greater mean and maximum positive g-force (P < 0.005) and lower mean and minimum negative g-force (P < 0.001), greater frequency of peaks/min (P < 0.001) and over 12 times greater percentage of peaks >+2 g compared with other horses (P < 0.001). Receiver operator curve characteristics of percentage of peaks >+2 g (CI 0.72-0.95), percentage of peaks <-2 g (CI 0.66-0.92) and percentage of peaks <-2 g and >+2 g (CI 0.72-0.96) showed excellent discrimination of TGMHS horses from LAME, CONTROL and non-TGMHS horses. Conclusions: Referral population of horses, small sample size and control horses were not evaluated for orthopaedic disease. Conclusions: Accelerometer data from trotting exercise on the lunge provides an objective measure of HS and can differentiate between TGMHS, non-TGMHS, normal head movements and those associated with forelimb lameness. Accelerometer use may aid HS diagnosis and monitoring of management strategies. Unassigned: La sacudida de cabeza (HS) en equinos mediada por el nervio trigémino (TGM), es un síndrome de dolor facial neuropático caracterizado por movimientos de cabeza de intensidad y frecuencia variables y por síntomas de irritación nasal. No existe un método preciso para cuantificar y/o caracterizar la gravedad de HS. Objective: Desarrollar y validar una medida objetiva de TGMHS. DISEÑO DEL ESTUDIO: Estudio prospectivo de casos y controles. MÉTODOS: Caballos presentados para la investigación de HS fueron reclutados junto a aquellos presentados para cojera de mano (LAME) y examen de pre‐compra como controles saludables (CONTROL). Datos de los movimiento de la cabeza fueron recolectados durante cinco minutos mientras trotaban a la cuerda usando un acelerómetro tri‐axial, con un rango de ±16 g y frecuencia de muestreo de 800 Hz, ajustado a la testera de la cabezada. Las grabaciones se exportaron para ser procesadas. Detección de picos fue realizada usando umbrales mínimos y máximos de −1g y + 1g (corregidos para gravedad) y un muestreo mínimo de 10 picos de ancho. Results: Cincuenta y seis caballos fueron incluidos en el estudio; 18 TGMHS, 10 no‐TGMHS, 12 LAME y 16 CONTROL. Las características y la frecuencia de los movimientos de cabeza verticales (eje Z) de caballos TGMHS, difirieron significativamente de otros caballos. Los caballos TGMHS presentaron picos con una fuerza‐g positiva con mayor promedio y máxima (P < 0.005) y una fuerza‐g negativa con menor promedio y mínima (P < 0.001), con mayor frecuencia de picos/min (P < 0.001), y un porcentaje mas de doce veces mayor de picos >+2 g en comparación a los otros caballos (P < 0.001). Las características de las curvas del operador del receptor de los picos promedio >+2 g (CI 0.72–0.95), del porcentaje de picos <−2 g (CI 0.66–0.92), y del porcentaje de picos <−2 g y > +2 g (CI 0.72–0.96) mostraron una excelente discriminación de caballos TGMHS con respecto a caballos LAME, CONTROL y no‐TGMHS. Unassigned: Población de caballos derivados, numero de muestra pequeño, y los caballos control no fueron evaluados por enfermedades ortopédicas. Conclusions: Los datos de acelerómetros por trote a la cuerda, dan una medida objetiva de HS y permiten diferenciar entre TGMHS, no‐TGMHS, movimientos normales de cabeza y aquellos asociados a cojera de mano. El uso de acelerómetros puede ayudar en el diagnostico de HS y monitorear las estrategias de manejo.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2024-07-17 PubMed ID: 39020521PubMed Central: PMC11982430DOI: 10.1111/evj.14132Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article presents a study aimed at developing and validating an objective approach to measuring the severity of Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking (TGMHS) in horses, a neuropathic facial pain condition, using a tri-axial accelerometer attached to the horses’ bridle while trotting.
Introduction and Objective
- The research focuses on an equine condition known as Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking (TGMHS). This is a disorder in horses producing extreme facial pain illustrated by unexpected head movements and signals of nasal discomfort. Despite the well-defined symptoms, there is a lack of accurate methodology for quantification and characterisation of this condition.
- The main objective of the research was to create and validate a technique for objectively measuring TGMHS.
Methods
- The study was a prospective case control study, carried out using horses showing signs of headshaking, horses showing signs of forelimb lameness, horses presented for pre-purchase examination, and healthy horses (control group).
- The researchers attached a tri-axial accelerometer to the bridle of each horse. The accelerometer, which has a range of ±16 g and a sampling rate of 800 Hz, recorded the horses’ head movements while trotting for 5 minutes.
- The collected data was then exported and processed, with peak detection performed using minimum and maximum thresholds of -1g and +1 g (after being corrected for gravity) and a minimum peak width of 10 samples.
Results
- The study involved a total of fifty-six horses: 18 TGMHS, 10 non-TGMHS, 12 lame, and 16 controls.
- The findings showed that vertical (Z axis) head movements in TGMHS horses were significantly different from other groups of horses.
- TGMHS horses had peaks with more considerable mean and maximum positive g-force and lower mean and minimum negative g-force, a higher frequency of peaks per minute, and over 12 times greater percentage of peaks above +2 g compared with other horses.
- Using a Receiver Operator Curve, the characteristics of peak percentages above +2 g and below -2 g showed excellent discrimination between TGMHS horses and other horse categories such as lame, control, and non-TGMHS horses.
Conclusion
- The study does acknowledge some limitations such as the referral population of horses, small sample size, and that control horses were not evaluated for orthopaedic diseases.
- Nonetheless, the results indicate that data from the accelerometer provides objective measurement of HS and successfully differentiates between TGMHS, non-TGMHS, normal head movements, and movements linked with forelimb lameness.
- The application of an accelerometer could potentially be an aid in diagnosing HS and monitoring the effectiveness of management strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Pickles KJ, Marlin DJ, Williams JM, Roberts VLH.
(2024).
Use of a poll-mounted accelerometer for quantification and characterisation of equine trigeminal-mediated headshaking.
Equine Vet J, 57(3), 645-653.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14132 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK.
- Animalweb Ltd, Cambridge, UK.
- Hartpury University, Gloucester, UK.
- Bristol Vet School, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Accelerometry / veterinary
- Accelerometry / instrumentation
- Accelerometry / methods
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Case-Control Studies
- Male
- Female
- Head Movements / physiology
- Prospective Studies
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
Grant Funding
- The Langford Trust for Animal Health and Welfare
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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