Useful And Essential Facts About Navicular Disease Treatment

By Michael Cooper


The most commonly occurring horse condition among others is navicular syndrome. This condition mainly leads to seasonal lameness in the front limbs in equines, particularly horses. The disorder is a degenerative condition of the structures located within the heels of horses. It is also referred to as navicular disease or caudal heel pain syndrome. It leads to degeneration or inflammation of navicular bones and structures around it. This is worth knowing about Navicular disease treatment.

The limbs of the horse is where this condition is limited to. Distal limpar ligament, navicular bursa, and deep digital flexor tendon are some of the structures it affects. The navicular bone is wrapped around by the deep digital tendon which runs down the leg. At the back of the heel is where the navicular bone is usually placed. Pains in the tendons and ligaments in this area are usually caused by changes in bursa and the navicula bone.

There are several signs that are characteristics of this disease. Chronic recurrent forelimb lameness is the major sign. In most cases, the lameness normally affects one limb but both limbs may be affected in some cases. Whenever the horse rests, the affected foot is normally pointed. Usually, hoof abnormalities also develop on the affected feet.

In addition, other symptoms include underrun heels, medial lateral foot imbalance, one foot shrinking in size than the other, and broken hoof pastern axis. These symptoms may be difficult to recognize when the disorder is starting, but they become easier to recognize as the disorder worsens. A huge deal of damage is usually already done to the horse when the signs get visible.

Several investigative procedures need to be done to diagnose the condition. Clinical examination, x-rays historical assessment, and response to nerve blocks are some of these investigations. The examination of the horse is done while it is standing inside and outside the stable during a holistic clinical examination. Observation of the feet of the animal is also done when standing and when bearing no weight. Walking and trotting of the animal in a straight line is also observed.

Palmar digital nerve block is then done on the leg that is considered to be most lame. After that, the pain is localized through the injection of a small amount of local anesthetic. After the administration of the anesthetic, the animal is allowed between 5 to 10 minutes before it is reevaluated.

An x-ray scan of both feet of the horse is captured after accomplishment of the palmar digital nerve block. The photos are taken from all possible angles of the limbs. For example, x-ray images are captured from the side, front side and back side. The images focus particularly on the muscles, tendons, and the bones. Improved technology has made it possible for 3D images to be produced.

The level of detail that is often needed in some situations is not usually provided even though x-rays are useful. Coexisting soft tissue injuries or subtle bony changes may not be detected by x-rays for example. Besides taking x-ray images, MRI scans also get done. MRI scans have been made the standard diagnostic imaging procedure nowadays.




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