Focus sur: Intérêt de la <i>Horse Grimace Scale</i> dans l’évaluation de la douleur lors d’ulcère gastrique ?
Authors: Schambourg Morgane
Journal: Le Nouveau Praticien Vétérinaire équine
Summary
The Horse Grimace Scale (HGS), a validated pain assessment tool based on six facial expression indicators, offers considerable promise for detecting and quantifying pain across various equine clinical presentations. However, a critical review of Felini et al.'s research reveals that no statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between gastric ulcer presence and HGS scores, suggesting the scale's utility may be limited when applied specifically to visceral pain conditions. This finding warrants caution amongst practitioners considering HGS as a standalone diagnostic indicator for equine gastric ulcer syndrome, particularly given that visceral pain often manifests differently from musculoskeletal or acute pain. Future investigation employing larger cohorts, observation periods timed to coincide with pain exacerbation triggers (such as feeding or stress), and integration of complementary behavioural parameters—such as changes in appetite, posture, or social interaction—may yet establish meaningful correlations for gastric pain assessment. Until such evidence emerges, veterinary professionals should continue integrating HGS with endoscopic confirmation, clinical history, and additional pain indicators rather than relying on facial expressions alone to evaluate suspected gastric ulceration.
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Practical Takeaways
- •HGS shows promise as a pain detection tool in equine practice but cannot yet be relied upon as a standalone indicator of gastric ulcer presence
- •Current evidence suggests clinical assessment of gastric ulcers requires additional diagnostic methods beyond facial expression evaluation
- •Consider HGS as a complementary pain monitoring tool alongside other clinical and behavioral parameters rather than a definitive gastric ulcer indicator
Key Findings
- •Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) is a promising pain assessment tool based on 6 facial expressions for detecting and monitoring pain in equines
- •No significant correlation was found between presence of gastric ulcers and HGS scores in the Felini et al. study
- •Future studies with larger sample sizes and observation during pain exacerbation circumstances are needed to establish statistical significance