Magnetic resonance and radiographic imaging of a case of bilateral bipartite navicular bones in a horse.

The research article presents a unique case of a horse with a rare condition of partitioned, or ‘bipartite’, navicular bones in both front legs. Using radiographic and MRI imaging, the study also found previously undescribed concurrent abnormalities in the horse’s foot associated with this condition. These additional findings helped explain why horses with this condition often have a poor prognosis for returning to previous performance levels.

Objective of the Research

• The core objective of the research was to analyze a unique case of a 7-year-old Warmblood gelding used for eventing, that was diagnosed with bipartite navicular bones in both forelimbs. This condition, where the navicular bones are partitioned, is quite unusual.
• The researchers used radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to investigate the case further and to shed some light on underlying abnormalities that may exist concurrently with the navicular bone partition.

Methodology

• The researchers opted for two imaging techniques to study the case — traditional radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• While X-ray imaging allowed them to confirm the partitioning of the navicular bones, they used MRI for an in-depth investigation of the foot to reveal any soft tissue lesions and other abnormalities associated with the osseous (bone-related) pathology.

Findings

• Besides detecting the bipartite navicular bones condition, the MRI revealed additional abnormal changes within the foot of the horse, which were not previously reported in other cases of navicular bone partition.
• These additional findings mainly involved soft tissue lesions within the podotrochlear apparatus (a group of structures located within the foot, including the navicular bone and bursa, and the distal sesamoid ligaments).
• Through MRI, the researchers were also able to offer a detailed examination of the recently diagnosed bone-related (osseous) pathology of the navicular bones.

Conclusion and Implication

• Recognition of these additional abnormal changes not only allowed a better understanding of the case but also directly influenced the prognostication. With these additional abnormalities, the prognosis for the given horse to return to its previous level of performance was deemed quite poor.
• The study provided new insights that could potentially explain why this specific condition generally results in a poor prognosis for equine athletic patients.