Treatment suggestions for unusual case of navicular

[Stelli&Staunton]

i have a 10 year old hanoverian that was lame on and off for awhile and is now chroniclly lame but only in the left front. I had xrays and ultrasound done have come to find out it is navicular which may or may not have been caused by some sort of trauma before he came to me and now has bone remodeling which caused a rough edge on his navicular bone to rub against his ligaments and now there is scar tissue and my vet is afraid it will continue to rub all the way through eventually. we tried bar shoes and wedge shoes seemed to help a little but only if he had a regular shoe on the "good" hoof and a wedge on the bad. (i know it is very weird but it was the only thing i found that helped temporarily) I do not want to do a nuercetomy(sp). We are looking at study for a long term nerve block injection but it doesn't really solve the problem. I might try regional profusion Tildren but i would like to know if anyone else has had any experience with this type of navicular since it is only in one hoof and he has no other problems and what treatment you have used or if you have any experience with tildren. Any help/suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!

[LMH]

One thing is make sure and get the hoof form correct.

[Samotis]

I know my friend has a large tb/qh cross that got navicular.

He is almost 18 hands and his little legs just couldn't handle the impact and caused navicular.

she did use tildren on him and he used to be crippled lame (she was considering putting him to sleep) and he is now sound enough to do walk trot lessons.

She really thinks that the tildren did wonders for him.

She is out of town right now, but I can get you her number if you would like to talk to her. She really believes in the tildren.

If your horse is only mildly lame, it may help him alot!

Whatever you do don't nerve him. Despite what some vets may tell you. It is dangerous and I know many people that have done it and the nerves just grow back. Also as they get older they start to trip more often. (it essentially numbs part of their hoof.)

[Fharoah]

Are you absolutely positive you have an exact diagnoses? Just wondering about an MRI? Some have had secess injecting the coffin joint with IRAP. Tildren is probablly your best bet, do navicular bursa injections help?

Best Wishes!

[Androcles]

is there something wrong with the navicular bursa? If not then it should be protecting the tendon from any rough edge and the bone 'wearing through'.
FWIW I think you need a better diagnosis.

[AKB]

I would go and see a lameness specialist/board certified surgeon. Where are you located?

We have a turning 22 year old Irish Draught who has had navicular for quite a few years. At first, he responded very well to once a year navicular bursa injections of steroid and sometimes hyaluronic acid, along with good shoeing. When those injections suddenly were only lasting 3 months, we did IRAP, which made him sound for 6 months. Then, we did regional perfusions of Tildren, and repeated the steroid injections in the navicular bursa. He is doing very well now. At some point, we may need to do a neurectomy, but that is definitely a last resort. As long as alternating bursa injections of steroid, IRAP, and Tildren regional perfusions help him, I want to continue on that plan.

I do think that bursa injections, IRAP, and regional perfusions of Tildren are all good treatments for some horses with navicular. You need to be sure you are dealing with navicular, and then start a treatment plan. If the first drug doesn't work, then move on to the next drug. The important part is to find a vet who will work with you on the plan.

[Fharoah]

[QUOTE=Stelli&Staunton;4525756]i have a 10 year old hanoverian that was lame on and off for awhile and is now chroniclly lame but only in the left front. I had xrays and ultrasound done have come to find out it is navicular which may or may not have been caused by some sort of trauma before he came to me and now has bone remodeling which caused a rough edge on his navicular bone to rub against his ligaments and now there is scar tissue and my vet is afraid it will continue to rub all the way through eventually.

I am wondering is there a difference between remodeling of the navicular bone and navicular changes? My horse has mild remodeling on his navicular bone my lameness specialist considers that of no significance. Does your horse respond to hoof testers?

[Trees4U]

Sounds like changing his angle makes some kind of difference. I would further investigate that route. We had one that went with a wedge pad on one side and he was fine.

[AZ Native]

i have a 10 year old hanoverian that was lame on and off for awhile and is now chroniclly lame but only in the left front. I had xrays and ultrasound done have come to find out it is navicular which may or may not have been caused by some sort of trauma before he came to me and now has bone remodeling which caused a rough edge on his navicular bone to rub against his ligaments and now there is scar tissue and my vet is afraid it will continue to rub all the way through eventually. we tried bar shoes and wedge shoes seemed to help a little but only if he had a regular shoe on the "good" hoof and a wedge on the bad. (i know it is very weird but it was the only thing i found that helped temporarily) I do not want to do a nuercetomy(sp). We are looking at study for a long term nerve block injection but it doesn't really solve the problem. I might try regional profusion Tildren but i would like to know if anyone else has had any experience with this type of navicular since it is only in one hoof and he has no other problems and what treatment you have used or if you have any experience with tildren. Any help/suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!


Great article that will be helpful to you :

http://www.hoofrehab.com/NavicularSyndrome.htm

[purplnurpl]

hit the MRI before you go towards any treatments.
The radiograph/blocks vs. MRI on my horse were quite different! MRI tells the truth everytime. Ultrasound can be iffy.

It's pricey but you could also be spending money for years on the wrong treatment.

If the horse is insured you can usually have the MRI 100% paid for.