FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
BMC veterinary research2016; 12; 74; doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0698-4

Clinicopathological findings in horses with a bi- or tripartite navicular bone.

Abstract: Navicular bone partition is a rare condition reported in horses, which is during the evaluation of a lameness or prepurchase examination often misinterpreted for a parasagittal fracture. In this report, the clinicopathological findings of three cases of navicular bone partition are evaluated. The possible pathomechanisms underlying the condition are hypothesised, focusing on a potential origin of foetal vascular disturbance. This study is furthermore aiming at a clearer and earlier recognition of navicular bone partition, since this condition would finally predispose for a clinical lameness with a poor prognosis. Methods: Case 1 was a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding with a Grade 3/5 chronic, recurrent left-forelimb lameness that had persisted for 4 months. Perineural palmar digital nerve block of the distal foot abolished the lameness. Radiographic examination revealed a bipartite navicular bone in the left forelimb. Unfortunately, the animal was lost to follow-up. Case 2 was a 7-year-old Quarter Horse stallion with a Grade 3/5 recurrent right forelimb lameness that had persisted for 2 years. The lameness switched to the contralateral left forelimb with a palmar digital nerve block. Radiographic examination identified a tripartite navicular bone in both forelimbs. Pathological examination additionally revealed chronic degenerative changes of the cartilage and subchondral bone with marked cystic changes. Case 3 was a 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding with a Grade 3/5 recurrent left hindlimb lameness that had persisted for 6 months. Owing to the uncooperative behaviour of the horse, only a combined peroneal and tibial nerve block could be performed, which abolished the lameness. Radiographic examination revealed a bipartite navicular bone in the left hindlimb. Pathological examination showed a navicular bipartition in the left hindlimb, with microscopic changes comparable to those evident in Case 2; additionally, cartilage indentations were also found in the navicular bones of the right front- and hindlimb at a similar location as the partition site in the left hindlimb. Conclusions: It is speculated that a navicular bone partition has a congenital origin and is caused by vascular disturbance during foetal development. This may lead to aberrant endochondral ossification or the formation of multiple ossification centres resulting in navicular bone partitioning. In the adult horse, chronic repetitive biomechanical challenges at the partition sites may induce local degenerative changes with subchondral cyst formation and thus would cause a gradually developing chronic lameness with a poor prognosis.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2016-04-09 PubMed ID: 27061802PubMed Central: PMC4826531DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0698-4Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Case Reports
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates a rare condition in horses called navicular bone partition which can be misinterpreted as a parasagittal fracture, often identified during a lameness or prepurchase examination. An analysis of three cases attempts to identify potential causes for this condition, focusing on a hypothesis that foetal vascular disturbance might be involved. The paper aims to enable clearer, earlier recognition of navicular bone partition, which could predispose horses to lameness with a poor prognosis.

Case Studies

  • The first case involved a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding that was suffering from chronic, recurrent lameness in the left forelimb. During the examination, a bipartite (two-part) navicular bone was discovered in the horse’s affected limb. Because of circumstances, the horse’s condition couldn’t be tracked afterwards.
  • The second case concerned a 7-year-old Quarter Horse stallion with right forelimb lameness that had persisted for two years. However, after the application of a palmar digital nerve block, the lameness transferred to the left forelimb. Both forelimbs were found to have a tripartite (three-part) navicular bone. A pathological examination highlighted chronic degenerative changes in both the cartilage and subchondral (below the cartilage) bone, along with significant cystic changes.
  • The final case was a 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding that displayed recurrent lameness in the left hindlimb over a six-month period. The horse’s uncooperative behaviour allowed only a combined peroneal and tibial nerve block to be performed, which alleviated the lameness. The radiographic examination revealed a bipartite navicular bone in the left hindlimb. Pathological examination found similar microscopic changes as were seen in Case 2, as well as the discovery of cartilage indentations in the horse’s right fore- and hindlimb navicular bones at a location similar to the partition site in the left hindlimb.

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that navicular bone partition likely has a congenital origin and may be precipitated by vascular disturbances during foetal development. These developmental issues may lead to abnormal endochondral ossification, or the formation of multiple ossification centres, culminating in navicular bone partitioning.
  • In adult horses, it’s thought that chronic repetitive biomechanical strain at the partition sites may prompt local degenerative changes along with subchondral cyst formation. This would cause a gradual development of chronic lameness, which typically has a poor prognosis.

Cite This Article

APA
van der Zaag EJ, Weerts EA, van den Belt AJ, Back W. (2016). Clinicopathological findings in horses with a bi- or tripartite navicular bone. BMC Vet Res, 12, 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0698-4

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 12
Pages: 74

Researcher Affiliations

van der Zaag, Ellen J
  • Veterinary Clinic De Delta, Foppenpolder 1, NL-3155 EA, Maasland, The Netherlands.
Weerts, Erik A W S
  • Department of Pathobiology, Division Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, NL-3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van den Belt, Antoon J M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, NL-3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Back, Willem
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, NL-3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands. W.Back@uu.nl.
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. W.Back@uu.nl.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Diseases / pathology
  • Bone Diseases / veterinary
  • Forelimb / pathology
  • Hindlimb / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
  • Lameness, Animal / pathology
  • Male
  • Radiography
  • Tarsal Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Tarsal Bones / pathology

References

This article includes 23 references
  1. Baxter GM. Subchondral cystic lesions in horses.. In: McIlwraith CW, Trotter GW, editors. Joint disease in the horse. 1. Collorado: W.B. Saunders Company; 1996. pp. 384–397.
  2. Benninger MI, Deiss E, Ueltschi G. Bipartite distal phalanx and navicular bone in an Andalusian stallion.. Vet Rad Ultras 2005;46:69–71.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2005.00014.xpubmed: 15693564google scholar: lookup
  3. Beherens E, Yllesca MV. An unusual lameness: a case report.. Equine Vet Sci 1990;10:53–54.
    doi: 10.1016/S0737-0806(06)80085-7google scholar: lookup
  4. Biggi M, Dyson S. Unusual navicular bone fractures in hindlimbs: clinical and imaging findings.. J Equine Vet Science 2013;33:1082–1087.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2013.04.006google scholar: lookup
  5. Colles CM. Navicular bone fractures in the horse.. Equine Vet Educ 2011;23:255–261.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2011.00228.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  6. Dik KJ, Van den Belt AJ, Van den Broek J. Relationships of age and shape of the navicular bone to the development of navicular disease: a radiological study.. Equine Vet J 2001;33:172–175.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb00596.xpubmed: 11266067google scholar: lookup
  7. Dyson SJ, Murray R, Blunden T, Schramme M. Current concepts of navicular disease.. Equine Vet Educ 2006;18:45–56.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2006.tb00414.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  8. Dyson SJ. Fracture of the navicular bone and congenital bipartite navicular bone.. In: Ross MW, Dyson SJ, editors. Diagnoses and management of lameness in the horse. 2. St. Louis: Elsevier; 2010. pp. 243–344.
  9. Dyson SJ. Radiological interpretation of the navicular bone.. Equine Vet Educ 2008;20:268–280.
    doi: 10.2746/095777308X294306google scholar: lookup
  10. Frankel JD, Harrington J. Symptomatic bipartite sesamoids.. J of Foot Surg 1990;29:318–323.
    pubmed: 2229903
  11. Gerber M, Roberto PD. Sesamoids.. In: Hetherington VJ, editor. Textbook of hallux valgus and forefoot surgery. 1st ed. Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (OCPM). Cleveland: Kent State University (KSU); 2000. p. 153–162.
  12. Komosa M, Purzyc H, Wojnar M, Frąckowiak H, Kobryńczuk F. Navicular syndrome in sport horses as a result of the disorder of biological bone tissue turnover rhythm: a review.. Biol Rhythm Res 2013;44:339–351.
    doi: 10.1080/09291016.2012.681850google scholar: lookup
  13. Olstad K, Ytrehus B, Ekman S, Carlson CS, Dolvik NI. Early lesions of osteochondrosis in the distal tibia of foals.. J Orth Res 2007;25:1094–1105.
    doi: 10.1002/jor.20375pubmed: 17415757google scholar: lookup
  14. Olstad K, Ytrehus B, Ekman S, Carlson CS, Dolvik NI. Epiphyseal cartilage canal blood supply to the tarsus of foals and relationship to osteochondrosis.. Equine Vet J 2008;40:30–39.
    doi: 10.2746/042516407X239836pubmed: 18083657google scholar: lookup
  15. Reeves MJ, Yovich JV, Turner AS. Miscellaneous conditions of the equine foot.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1989;5:221–242.
    pubmed: 2565157
  16. Rijkenhuizen ABM, Németh F, Dik KJ, Goedegebuure SA. The arterial supply of the navicular bone in the normal horse.. Equine Vet J 1989;21:399–404.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb02184.xpubmed: 2591353google scholar: lookup
  17. Rijkenhuizen ABM, Németh F, Dik KJ, Goedegebuure SA. Development of the navicular bone in foetal and young horses, including the arterial supply.. Equine Vet J 1989;21:405–412.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb02185.xpubmed: 2591354google scholar: lookup
  18. Schröer NJ, Niederacher V, Horstmann W, Hermanns W. Fallbericht über strahlbeinveränderungen bei einem 7-jährigen bayrischen Warmblutpferd- klinik, röntgen, computertomographie und histologische untersuchung.. Pferdeheilkunde 2000;16:474–478.
  19. Shawdon A, Kiss ZS, Fuller P. The bipartite tarsal navicular bone: radiographic and computed tomography findings.. Austr Rad 1995;39:192–194.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1673.1995.tb00271.xpubmed: 7605331google scholar: lookup
  20. Sloet van Oldenruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Barneveld A, van den Belt AJM. De veterinaire keuring van het paard.. Leeuwarden: Uitgeverij Libre BV; 2007.
  21. Smith DRK, Leach DH, Bell RJ. Phalangeal and navicular bone hypoplasia and hoof malformation in the hind limbs of a foal.. Can Vet J 1986;27:28–34.
    pmc: PMC1680233pubmed: 17422612
  22. Thompson KN, Rooney JR. Bipartite proximal sesamoid bones in young thoroughbred horses.. Vet Rad & Ultr 1994;35:368–370.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.1994.tb02056.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  23. Ytrehus B, Carlson CS, Ekman S. Etiology and pathogenesis of osteochondrosis.. Vet Path 2007;44:429–448.
    doi: 10.1354/vp.44-4-429pubmed: 17606505google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Giessen EJM, Stas EKL, Grinwis GCM, Veraa S. Imaging Findings of Congenital Distal Interphalangeal Joint Dysplasia in a 3-Month-Old Friesian Foal. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2025 Sep;66(5):e70076.
    doi: 10.1111/vru.70076pubmed: 40831150google scholar: lookup
  2. Ludwig EK, Hallowell K, Womble M, O'Neil E. Bilateral patellar aplasia in a foal. Vet Med Sci 2023 May;9(3):1143-1148.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.1083pubmed: 36734120google scholar: lookup
  3. Sun T, Zhao H, Wang L, Wu W, Hu W. Distribution patterns and coincidence of sesamoid bones at metatarsophalangeal joints. Surg Radiol Anat 2017 Apr;39(4):427-432.
    doi: 10.1007/s00276-016-1759-xpubmed: 27743001google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 106,245 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.