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Mepivacaine local anaesthetic duration in equine palmar digital nerve blocks
Author(s) -
BIDWELL L. A.,
BROWN K. E.,
CORDIER A.,
MULLINEAUX D. R.,
CLAYTON H. M.
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.2746/0425164044848154
Subject(s) - forelimb , lameness , mepivacaine , medicine , nerve block , block (permutation group theory) , anesthesia , digital nerve , median nerve , anatomy , surgery , mathematics , bupivacaine , geometry
Summary Reasons for performing study : Perineural analgesics are used for lameness diagnosis but the duration of effect, knowledge of which would provide valuable information when performing subsequent blocks, is unknown. Objective : To evaluate the duration of a palmar digital nerve block using force plate measurements. Methods : Ten horses diagnosed with unilateral navicular syndrome were trotted at range of 3 ± 0.15 m/sec over a force plate to record ground reaction forces for 5 trials of each forelimb. Data were recorded before nerve block, and then at 15 mins, 1, 2 and 24 h post nerve block. Results : Before nerve block, peak vertical force (mean ± s.e.) was significantly higher in the contralateral forelimb (CL = 5345 ± 188 N) than in the lame forelimb (L = 4256 ± 204 N; P<0.05). At 15 mins post nerve block there was no significant difference between the 2 forelimbs (CL = 5140 ± 184 N; L = 5126 ± 129 N), and this remained the case for 1 h. By 2 h, the mean score for the lame leg had decreased (L = 4642 ± 182 N) but was still greater than preblock. By 24 h, vertical forces had returned to preblock values. Conclusions : The palmar digital nerve block was fully effective between 15 mins and 1 h. The analgesic effect began to subside between 1 and 2 h but sufficient analgesia persisted to affect gait characteristics beyond 2 h. Potential relevance : When using a palmar digital nerve block, it is important to perform lameness evaluations between 15 mins and 1 h to be sure of effective nerve blockade.