Investigating the effect of surface cryotherapy on equine patient compliance to infraorbital nerve block placement.

Icing does not significantly improve equine compliance to infraorbital nerve blocks.

This blinded, randomized crossover trial examined whether topical cryotherapy improves equine patient compliance during infraorbital nerve block placement. Thirty healthy adult horses (mean age 16 years, mean weight 594 kg) were evaluated in two treatment conditions separated by minimum 7 days: 5 minutes of ice application to skin overlying the infraorbital canal (ICE) versus no icing (N-ICE), both performed during standing sedation with detomidine hydrochloride. Compliance was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0-10, with two blinded investigators scoring each procedure for total score of 20. Block efficacy was confirmed via needle prick testing following 5 mL mepivacaine 2% injection. Results showed no statistically significant difference in compliance between groups (P=0.179), with mean VAS scores of 13.74±6.2 (ICE) and 11.81±6.9 (N-ICE). Block success rates were higher in the ICE group (24/30) compared to N-ICE (18/30). No adverse effects were documented in either group. The study concludes that surface cryotherapy does not significantly improve horse compliance to infraorbital nerve block placement in sedated animals.

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