Diagnostic Nerve and Joint Blocks

It is quite common for horses with lameness problems to not show any outward signs of heat, swelling, palpable pain or sensitivity to allow the veterinarian to localise the cause. Perineural or intra-articular analgesia (nerve and joint blocks) involves injecting local anaesthetic either around nerves or directly into a joint, and are commonly performed during a lameness investigation. By desensitizing specific areas of the limb and evaluating any change in lameness, the area of discomfort can be isolated allowing further investigation such as radiography (X-rays) or ultrasonography to establish an accurate diagnosis. Once the proper diagnosis is made we can then start to discuss management and treatment options with a high chance of successfully resolving the problem.