[Digital semiological anesthesia in horses: technique and elements of interpretation]

Digital semiological anesthesia in horses: Technique and elements of interpretation. Semiological anesthesia of the pes is used during examinations for lameness in horses. Recent research data on the distal digital, distal interphalangeal articular, and podotrochlear intrathecal nerve blocks indicate that they are less than specific when considered in isolation. They should be used in combination to localize pain in the pes. A positive response to anesthesia of the distal interphalangeal articulation could also indicate that the source of the pain was in the podotrochlear apparatus or the dorsal part of the sole. Podotrochlear anesthesia also anesthetizes the dorsal part of the sole and, later, the distal interphalangeal joint. Distal digital anesthesia affects a large palmar area of the hoof and extends dorsally. Overall, basic research provides little support for the practical uses of semiological blocks.