Effect of analgesia of the metacarpophalangeal joint in horses with lameness caused by solar pain

It has been shown that pain originating from the dorsal margin of the sole of the hoof in horses can be attenuated by analgesia of either the distal interphalangeal (DIP) Joint, navicular bursa (NB) or palmar digital nerves (PD). To show this effect when anaesthetic solution was injected in to the metacarpophalangeal Joint (MCP) an experimental lameness was induced in the toe region of the left forelimb in 6 adult horses. After this, synovial structures of the MCP joint were blocked and the effects on the lameness were semi-quantitatively scored. Lameness scores were high after application of the screws and remained high after the administration of saline as well as local anaesthetic into the MCP joint. It is concluded that analgesia of the MCP Joint can not attenuate lameness due to pain arising from the toe region of the sole.