DOI
https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v6i1.352Abstract
PICO question
In horses diagnosed with trigeminal-mediated headshaking, is EquiPENS™ therapy more efficacious when compared to electroacupuncture in terms of remission of clinical signs?
Clinical bottom line
Category of research question
Treatment
The number and type of study designs reviewed
Three papers were critically reviewed, all three were descriptive case series
Strength of evidence
Weak
Outcomes reported
Remission was achieved following both EquiPENS™ and electroacupuncture therapy in a proportion of horses for variable lengths of time. Median remission times appear to be longer with repeated treatment of EquiPENS™ compared to electroacupuncture
Conclusion
The evidence for EquiPENS™ treatment is more robust than for electroacupuncture, and remission defined more clearly, and so could be recommended with greater confidence
How to apply this evidence in practice
The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources.
Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.
References
Aleman, M., Williams, D.C., Brosnan, R.J., Nieto, J.E., Pickles, K.J., Berger, J., LeCouteur, R.A., Holliday, T.A. and Madigan, J.E. (2013). Sensory nerve conduction and somatosensory evoked potentials of the trigeminal nerve in horses with idiopathic headshaking. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 27(6), 1571–1580. DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jvim.12191
Devereux, S. (2019). Electroacupuncture as an additional treatment for headshaking in six horses. Equine Veterinary Education. 31(3), 137–146. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.12776
Dobrota, V.D., Hrabac, P., Skegro, D., Smiljanic, R., Dobrota, S., Prkacin, I., Brkljacic, N., Peros, K., Tomic, M., Lukinovic-Skudar, V. and Kes, V.B. (2014). The impact of neuropathic pain and other comorbidities on the quality of life in patients with diabetes. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 12(1), 171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-014-0171-7
Pickles, K., Madigan, J. and Aleman, M. (2014). Idiopathic headshaking: is it still idiopathic? The Veterinary Journal. 201(1), 21–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.03.031
Madigan, J.E. and Bell, S.A. (2001). Owner survey of headshaking in horses. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 219(3), 334–337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.219.334
Mills, D.S., Cook, S. and Jones, B. (2002). Reported response to treatment among 245 cases of equine headshaking. Veterinary Record. 150(10), 311–313. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.150.10.311
Roberts, V. (2019). Trigeminal-mediated headshaking in horses: prevalence, impact, and management strategies. Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports. 10, 1–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/VMRR.S163805
Roberts, V.L.H., Bailey, M., Equipens™ group, Patel, N.K., Carslake, H.B., Malalana, F., McGowan, C., Haggett, E.F., Barnett, T., Rendle, D.I. and Lunden, U. (2020). The safety and efficacy of neuromodulation using percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the management of trigeminal‐mediated headshaking in 168 horses. Equine Veterinary Journal. 52(2), 238–243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13174
Roberts, V.L.H., Patel, N.K. and Tremaine, W.H. (2016). Neuromodulation using percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the management of trigeminal‐mediated headshaking: a safe procedure resulting in medium‐term remission in five of seven horses. Equine Veterinary Journal. 48(2), 201–204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12394
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