MRI helps Guide Navicular Treatment A retrospective series of cases was examined using medical records and telephone follow-up to determine the outcome of treating the horses with navicular syndrome by injecting the navicular bursa with corticosteroids (Depo) and hyaluronic acid (HA). About 100 horses with navicular syndrome were examined by MRI and treated over a 9 year period. The injections were performed under general anesthesia and a technique to increase synovial pressure with the bursa was used for horses with adhesions in an attempt to break down. Following treatment, 75% of horses returned to their previous use for an average of 10 months, however only 35% remained sound at follow-up. Horses had been lame for less than 6 months prior to treatment were more likely to return to use, have a longer positive response to treatment and remain sound. Horses with a primary deep digital flexor tendinitis responded best to treatment followed by a 6 month rest and rehabilitation period. Horses with navicular bursitis, DDF tendinitis and adhesions to the collateral ligament of the navicular bone did not respond as well followed by horses with scar tissue in the Bursa, adhesions to the navicular bone itself or multiple problems identified on MRI. Interestingly the authors also concluded that sensitivity to hoof testers while common among affected horses (75%) was not a consistent clinical sign, and that the degree of lameness did not correlate well with the severity of disease. This article is taken from the Jan/Feb 2013 edition of the American Farriers Journal.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 19:40:29 +0000
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