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. 2025 May;57(3):798-805.
doi: 10.1111/evj.14207. Epub 2024 Aug 14.

Correlation between kinematic parameters, ataxia and ground-to-lip distance in detomidine sedated horses

Jorge Izquierdo-Moreno  1 , Marta Illán de Paz  1 , Gabriel Manso-Díaz  1 , María Villalba-Orero  1 , Javier López-Sanromán  1
Affiliations

Correlation between kinematic parameters, ataxia and ground-to-lip distance in detomidine sedated horses

Jorge Izquierdo-Moreno et al. Equine Vet J. 2025 May.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background: An accurate evaluation of the degree of sedation is mandatory to adjust the dosage of sedative drugs.

Objectives: To determine the correlation between head height above the ground and ataxia degree in horses sedated with detomidine and the correlation existing between accelerometric variables and both parameters.

Study design: In vivo experiment.

Methods: Twelve horses were given 0.01 mg/kg of detomidine hydrochloride iv. Measured accelerometric parameters, with one accelerometer positioned between both sacral tuberosities, included speed, stride frequency and length, regularity, dorsoventral, longitudinal, mediolateral and total accelerometric activities, relative force index and dorsoventral, longitudinal and mediolateral parts of the accelerometric activities. Head height above the ground (cm) and subjective ataxia degree were also measured. Baseline values (-15 min) and values measured 5 and 15 min after the injection and then every 15 min for a period of 2 h were obtained.

Results: There was a negative and strong correlation between head height above the ground and ataxia degree (Pearson r = -0.78, p < 0.001), particularly during the first 45 min. A significant correlation was found between head height above the ground and almost all accelerometric parameters. This correlation was very strong with stride frequency, regularity and dorsoventral and total accelerometric activities in both cases, but for ataxia, also with total accelerometric activity.

Main limitations: Experimental conditions may not represent real clinical situations.

Conclusions: Stride frequency and regularity are the most reliable parameters to determine degree of sedation and are related to the sedation produced. Ataxia should not be considered a separate property of sedation and does not need to be assessed separately to the depth of sedation.

Historial: Una evaluación precisa del grado de sedación es importante para ajustar la dosis de drogas sedantes.

Objetivos: Determinar la correlación entre la altura de cabeza con respecto al suelo y el grado de ataxia en caballos sedados con detomidina y la correlación que existe entre las variables acelerométricas y ambos parámetros. DISEÑO DEL ESTUDIO: Estudio retrospectivo. MÉTODOS: A doce caballos se les administró 0.01 mg/kg de hidrocloruro de detomidina por vía endovenosa. Parámetros acelerométricos fueron medidos, con un acelerómetro posicionado entre ambas tuberosidades sacrales, que incluyeron velocidad, frecuencia y largo del paso, regularidad, actividades acelerométricas dorso ventral, longitudinal, medio lateral y total, índice de fuerza relativo y partes dorso ventral, longitudinal, medio lateral de actividades acelerométricas. También se midieron la altura de la cabeza sobre el nivel del suelo (cm) y grado de ataxia subjetiva. Se obtuvieron valores de base (‐15 min) y valores medidos 5 y 15 min después de la inyección y subsecuentemente cada 15 min por un periódo de 2h.

Resultados: Hubo una correlación fuerte, negativa, estadísticamente significativa entre la altura de la cabeza sobre el nivel del suelo y el grado de ataxia (Pearson r = ‐0.78, p<0.001), con una correlación mayor durante los primeros 45 minutos. En cuanto a la ataxia, se encontró una correlación significativa entre cabeza sobre el suelo y casi todos los parámetros acelerométricos. Esta correlación fue muy fuerte con la frecuencia y regularidad del paso, actividades acelerométricas dorso ventral y total en ambos casos pero para ataxia también con actividad acelerométrica total.

Limitaciones principales: Condiciones experimentales no imitan completamente las situaciones clínicas reales.

Conclusiones: La frecuencia y regularidad del paso parecen ser los parámetros más confiables para determinar el grado de sedación y están estrictamente relacionados con la sedación producida. Además, la ataxia no debería considerarse como una propiedad separada de la sedación y no necesita ser evaluada en forma separada a la profundidad de la sedación.

Keywords: accelerometry; anaesthesia; ataxia; gait analysis; horse; sedation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
(A) Correlation between the degree of ataxia and the head height above the ground (HHAG), in horses sedated with detomidine (0.01 mg/kg bwt). (B, C) Percent of changes in the degree of ataxia and HHAG over time (B) and its corresponding area under the curve (AUC; C) (Student t‐test; ns = nonsignificant). (D) Correlation between the degree of ataxia and HHAG, over the first 45 and 60 min after detomidine administration. For correlations (Pearson correlation coefficient), the dots represent the values obtained for each of the variables, while the line represents the best fit for the correlation.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Correlation between the head height above the ground (HHAG) and (A) stride frequency (SF), (B) regularity (REG), (C) dorsoventral accelerometric activity (DVAA) and (D) total accelerometric activity (TAA)in horses sedated with detomidine (0.01 mg/kg bwt; Pearson correlation coefficient). The dots represent the values obtained for each of the variables, while the line represents the best fit for the correlation.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Correlation between the degree of ataxia and (A) stride frequency (SF), (B) regularity (REG), (C) dorsoventral accelerometric activity (DVAA), (D) total accelerometric activity (TAA) and (E) longitudinal accelerometric activity (LAA), over the time, in horses sedated with detomidine (0.01 mg/kg bwt). The dots represent the values obtained for each of the variables, while the line represents the best fit for the correlation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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