Abstract

The neurolytic solutions are widely used in equine medicine, in order to temporarily block nerve transmission to treat chronic degenerative diseases and relieve pain. Ethanol is the neuroleptic agent that has the longest duration of action, but causes higher rates of local inflammatory reaction, depending on concentration and site of infiltration. The present article aims to cite the use of 49.75% Ethanol Solution in eight cases. Three cases with infiltrations in the digital palmar nerves (DPN): two cases of ossification of alar cartilage and one fracture of the lateral wing in the third phalange; and five cases in the palmar nerves (PN): two chronic laminitis and three proximal interphalangeal bone proliferations (ring bone). Five of the eight cases presented local inflammatory reaction, representing 62.5%. All animals decreased the degree of claudication from 3 to 20 days. The animals were clinically followed-up for 120 days, with no return to the original degree of claudication. Lastly concluded that the 49.75% ethanolic solution was effective in the production of analgesia in horses with chronic digital affections, but it should be contraindicated in this concentration for PN block, because of presents local inflammatory reaction and esthetic damages due to fibrosis in several animals. Further studies with ethanol in neurolytic solutions for equines are necessary, trying to make possible a concentration that has a lasting effect, without exteriorization of inflammatory and / or fibrosis reactions.

Keywords: Horse; Chronic Pain; Neurolytic; Ethanolic Solution

Abbreviations: ACA: Painful Ossification of Alar Cartilages; DPN: Digital Palmar Nerve; LAM: Chronic Laminitis; PWF: Fracture of the Distal phalange Lateral Wing without joint involvement; PN: Palmar Nerve; RB: Proximal Interphalangeal Osteoproliferation with joint involvement (ring bone)