Lange Catharina D, Axiak Flammer Shannon, Gerber Vinzenz, Kindt Ditte, Koch Christoph
Institute of Equine MedicineDepartment of Clinical Veterinary MedicineVetsuisse FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland.
Vet Med Sci. 2017 May 29;3(3):125-133. doi: 10.1002/vms3.64. eCollection 2017 Aug.
It appears that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used increasingly often in horses for the assessment and treatment of suspected orthopaedic problems, especially back problems. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of CAM use for the management of orthopaedic problems in a defined population of Swiss Warmblood horses. A total of 239 owners and caretakers of horses from a pre-defined database were called by a veterinarian to participate in the survey. A standardized questionnaire was designed to determine, for each orthopaedic case, where the localization of the problem was (limb or back) and if conventional medicine or CAM was used for consultation and treatment. When CAM was employed, the CAM discipline and administrator (veterinarian or alternative therapist) was defined. A total of 222 cases in 170 horses with orthopaedic problems were identified. Sixty-two horses were identified with a back problem, 96 horses with a lameness involving one or more limbs and 12 horses with a combined back problem and lameness. CAM was used commonly in this population (73.9%, 164 of 222) for both diagnostic workup and treatment of suspected orthopaedic problems, but was rarely administered by a veterinarian (12%, 27 of 222). In general, if a back problem was suspected by the owner, CAM was more frequently applied for diagnosis and treatment than in cases where a lameness was suspected; (91.9%, 68 of 74) vs. (64.9%, 96 of 148) ( < 0.001), respectively. Osteopathy was the most frequently applied CAM discipline. CAM was frequently used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in Swiss Warmblood horses with suspected orthopaedic problems. CAM practitioners were consulted predominantly if a back problem was suspected, and the majority of CAM practitioners were not veterinarians.
在马的疑似骨科问题评估和治疗中，补充和替代医学（CAM）的使用似乎越来越频繁，尤其是背部问题。本研究的目的是确定在特定的瑞士温血马群体中，使用CAM管理骨科问题的频率。一名兽医致电预先定义数据库中的239名马主和饲养员，邀请他们参与调查。设计了一份标准化问卷，以确定每个骨科病例的问题所在部位（肢体或背部），以及是否使用传统医学或CAM进行咨询和治疗。当使用CAM时，明确CAM学科和实施者（兽医或替代疗法治疗师）。共识别出170匹患有骨科问题的马的222个病例。62匹马被诊断为背部问题，96匹马有一个或多个肢体跛行，12匹马同时存在背部问题和跛行。在这个群体中，CAM常用于疑似骨科问题的诊断检查和治疗（73.9%，222例中的164例），但很少由兽医实施（12%，222例中的27例）。一般来说，如果主人怀疑是背部问题，与怀疑跛行的情况相比，CAM更常用于诊断和治疗；分别为（91.9%，74例中的68例）和（64.9%，148例中的96例）（P<0.001）。整骨疗法是最常应用的CAM学科。在疑似患有骨科问题的瑞士温血马中，CAM经常用于诊断和治疗目的。如果怀疑是背部问题，主要咨询CAM从业者，且大多数CAM从业者不是兽医。
