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  Discussion on Navicular Bone Medial Edge Fracture
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Posted on Friday, Jul 27, 2001 - 3:18 pm:

I have been informed by my vet that my 5 year old American Saddlebred has a navicular bone medial edge fracture with separation. From the X-Ray my vet felt this was an old injury. He has had intermittent "owiness" in the right front since I purchased him. He passed the prepurchase (no X-Rays) My farrier has placed an egg bar shoe with 2 side clips and a toe clip. We have raised his front angle (which had been fairly low about 48) to 53 degrees. We have him on stall rest. From the article it seems we may be on the right path but I am concerned that perhaps we do not have him at a high enough angle. The treatement in the article called for an elevation of 12 degrees is that just from the starting point of wherever the horse was at? A 60 degree angle seems really high since we would have stand the other foot up that high too wouldnt we? Also are the medial edge fractures the most common and since I have separation what chance do I have in returning him the his show career? My local vet has recommended doing a nerve block if necessary, but I don't want to do damage.

Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2001 - 10:34 am:

Hello Laura,
Those recommendations are for the treatment of acute fractures to remove many of the forces acting on the navicular bone so it may heal. They are not recommended as shoeing recommendations for getting a going horses more comfortable. Which group do you fall in? The history suggests your vet is probably right: an old fracture. When this first occurred it would be very painful.

I have not seen any surveys on the relative frequency of this or other fractures on the navicular bone but it seems a fracture through the middle of the bone (sagital) is most often reported.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 27, 2001 - 6:54 pm:

DrO:
We are attempting to try to get the fracture to heal--however the vet was not positive about that due to the probable age of the fracture. He did pull up completely lame and not wanting to bear weight on the foot (which prompted the vet call and the diagnosis). I will stay with the heel elevation and egg-bar shoe probably for another month or two. What is your recommendation for shoeing after that and will doing a nerve block then back to work cause permanent damage? Or is the separation something we just have to learn to live with.

Thank you
Laura

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 28, 2001 - 4:21 am:

Taking them in order:

What is your recommendation for shoeing after that
Once I thought the bone was healed completely, I would return him to a normal angle and keep the egg bars.
and will doing a nerve block then back to work cause permanent damage?
If the purpose is to heal the bone you would not want the horse to walk around on the repair with no feeling. After all, it is his lameness that lets you know something is wrong and helps prevent the full force of the horse's weight from being placed on the bone.
DrO
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