Abstract | OBJECTIVE: DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 15 horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain. PROCEDURE: Horses were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Horses in group 1 received electroacupuncture stimulation (once every 3 days for 5 treatments), those in group 2 received phenylbutazone (2.2 mg/kg [1 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h, for 5 days), and those in group 3 received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (20 mL, PO, q 12 h, for 5 days). Thoracolumbar pain scores (TPSs) were evaluated before (baseline) and after each treatment. RESULTS: Mean +/- SE TPSs in horses receiving phenylbutazone or saline solution did not change significantly during the study. After the third treatment, mean +/- SE TPS (2.1 +/- 0.6) in horses receiving electroacupuncture stimulation was significantly lower than baseline (6.0 +/- 0.6) TPS. Mean +/- SE TPSs in horses receiving electroacupuncture stimulation were significantly lower than baseline TPSs and TPSs in horses receiving phenylbutazone or saline solution after the third treatment to 14 days after the last treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TPSs are useful for evaluating the efficacy of various analgesic methods used for treatment of thoracolumbar pain in horses. Electroacupuncture was effective for treatment of chronic thoracolumbar pain in horses. Results provided evidence that 3 sessions of electroacupuncture treatment can successfully alleviate signs of thoracolumbar pain in horses. The analgesic effect induced by electroacupuncture can last at least 2 weeks. Phenylbutazone administered PO did not effectively alleviate signs of thoracolumbar pain in horses in this study.
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Authors | Huisheng Xie, Patrick Colahan, Edgar A Ott |
Journal | Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
(J Am Vet Med Assoc)
Vol. 227
Issue 2
Pg. 281-6
(Jul 15 2005)
ISSN: 0003-1488 [Print] United States |
PMID | 16047667
(Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
- Phenylbutazone
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Topics |
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
(therapeutic use)
- Back Pain
(drug therapy, therapy, veterinary)
- Chronic Disease
- Electroacupuncture
(methods, veterinary)
- Female
- Horse Diseases
(drug therapy, therapy)
- Horses
- Male
- Phenylbutazone
(therapeutic use)
- Prospective Studies
- Random Allocation
- Treatment Outcome
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