Does Intra-articular Stifle Anesthesia Alleviate Lower Limb Lameness?
Principal Investigator: Lisa Fortier
Department of Clinical Sciences
Email: laf4@cornell.edu
Sponsor: Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research
Title: Does Intra-articular Stifle Anesthesia Alleviate Lower Limb Lameness?
Project Amount: $43,032
Project Period: January 2017 to December 2017
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant):
The objective of this clinical research study is to determine if administration of intra-articular anesthesia into the stifle joint alleviates lower limb lameness. Lameness examinations with diagnostic analgesia (nerve and joint blocks) are routine in equine practice. Intra-articular anesthesia (joint blocks) are commonly used to localize the source of pain to structures within, or immediately surrounding the desensitized joint. It is our clinical observation that blocking a stifle joint can paradoxically alleviate lower limb lameness. This has not been previously reported, and the effects of stifle blocks are presently considered specific to stifle-related lameness.