Bone Marrow Aspiration Does Not Induce a Measurable Pain Response Compared to Sham Procedure.
Authors: Rowland Aileen L, Navas de Solis Cristobal, Lepiz Mauricio A, Cummings Kevin J, Watts Ashlee E
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Bone Marrow Aspiration and Pain Response in Horses Regenerative medicine applications increasingly rely on bone marrow harvest from horses, yet little clinical evidence existed regarding pain experience during the procedure itself. Rowland and colleagues conducted a randomised cross-over study on 12 university horses, comparing sternal bone marrow aspiration (BMA) under xylazine sedation against a sham procedure performed 4 weeks apart, measuring pain response through salivary cortisol concentrations, heart rate variability (HRV), and sedation depth indicators. No significant differences emerged between BMA and sham groups in head height, sedation scoring, or salivary cortisol levels; whilst HRV showed a reduction in the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio post-procedure in the BMA group only, both groups demonstrated similar intra-procedural LF/HF reduction over time. The findings suggest that sternal bone marrow aspiration under adequate xylazine sedation does not induce a detectable pain response within the 2-hour post-operative window, supporting its use as a relatively well-tolerated procedure for regenerative medicine collection protocols. This reassurance is valuable for practitioners advising clients on welfare implications; however, the limitation of measuring only acute pain responses and sedation depth warrants consideration of post-operative discomfort assessment and longer monitoring periods in future work.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Bone marrow aspiration from the sternum appears well-tolerated in sedated horses with minimal acute pain response, supporting its use as a routine regenerative medicine collection technique
- •Standard xylazine sedation (0.4 mg/kg) provides adequate analgesia for the procedure without requiring additional pain management
- •Monitor heart rate variability post-procedure as a potential indicator of procedural stress, though this did not correlate with other pain measures
Key Findings
- •No significant differences in salivary cortisol, head height, or sedation score between bone marrow aspiration and sham procedures
- •Heart rate variability (LF/HF ratio) decreased significantly after bone marrow aspiration but not sham procedure
- •Both groups showed significant reduction in LF/HF ratio during the procedure over time
- •Sternal bone marrow aspiration under xylazine sedation does not produce measurable pain response compared to sham procedure