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Sedation and antisedation as tools in equine lameness examination
Author(s) -
BUCHNER H. H. F.,
KüBBER P.,
ZOHMANN E.,
PEHAM CH.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05223.x
Subject(s) - lameness , sedation , detomidine , medicine , anesthesia , warmblood , treadmill , stride , forelimb , kinematics , gait , horse , xylazine , physical therapy , surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anatomy , biology , paleontology , physics , ketamine , classical mechanics
Summary A kinematic study was performed to establish the locomotion pattern of horses under detomidine sedation and the effects of antagonisation for possible use during lameness examinations in uncooperative horses. The kinematics of 17 Warmblood horses (9 sound, 8 lame with chronic forelimb lameness) were recorded on 2 days using a high‐speed video system while trotting (3.9 m/s) on a treadmill. On each day a control measurement was carried out prior to sedation with detomidine (10 μg/kg bwt) and repeated recordings at 15, 25, 35, 45 and 60 min after sedation. On the second day, sedation was antagonised using atipamezole (100 μg/kg bwt) after the 15 min recording. Head height and pulse rate documented the level of sedation. The head dropped from mean 1.23 m (s.d. 0.13) to 0.50 m (0.26) following sedation to reach again 1.06 m (0.19) after 60 min. Antagonisation reversed the height significantly at the 25 min recording to 1.06 m (0.11). Walking and trotting were possible in all sedated horses in response to voice commands only. Forelimb lameness symmetry parameter (Head Acceleration Asymmetry: HAAS) in 8 lame horses did not change significantly due to sedation. Stride length increased significantly from mean 2.53 m (0.18) to 2.66 m (0.20) 15 min after sedation and reversed to 2.56 (0.17) m after antagonisation. Stride and stance durations changed accordingly. In conclusion, sedation did not change the degree of lameness, but did alter the general locomotion pattern. Antagonisation diminished most of these effects, but small differences to the unsedated pattern remained.