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Posted on Saturday, Aug 8, 2015 - 10:33 am:

Equine Vet J. 2015 Aug 1.
The effect of perineural anaesthesia and handler position on limb loading and hoof balance of the vertical ground reaction force in sound horses.
Van de Water E1, Oosterlinck M1, Pille F1.

Author information:
1Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.

Abstract
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY:
The effects of handler position and perineural anaesthesia in sound horses need investigation to facilitate interpretation of pressure plate analysis in lame horses.

OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the effect of handler position and perineural anaesthesia on limb loading and particularly hoof balance in sound horses.

STUDY DESIGN:
Non-randomised crossover study.

METHODS:
Six sound horses were walked and trotted over a pressure plate, with the handler on the left and subsequently on the right side, and finally after a bilateral low palmar digital nerve block. One week later, this procedure was repeated before and after a bilateral abaxial sesamoidean nerve block. Peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI) and stance time (ST) of 5 hoof prints of both forelimbs were obtained (126 Hz), and toe-heel and medio-lateral hoof balance curves of the vertical force were plotted throughout stance. Limb-loading and timing data and hoof balance data (beginning, middle and end of the stance phase) were statistically compared (handler left compared to right; before compared to after low palmar digital nerve block and abaxial sesamoid nerve block; baseline at first measurement session compared to second).

RESULTS:
There were no significant effects of handler position and perineural anaesthesia on PVF, VI and ST. Hoof balance curves were not affected by handler position or perineural anaesthesia. The limb loading data and hoof balance curves were comparable for each horse over the one-week interval.

CONCLUSIONS:
Handler position and perineural anaesthesia do not have an effect on limb loading and toe-heel and medio-lateral hoof balance in sound horses, which is of fundamental importance before embarking on pressure plate analysis for lameness diagnosis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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