Navicular bone disease: results of treatment using egg-bar shoeing technique.

The research article discusses the potential for treating navicular disease in horses through the application of an egg-bar shoeing technique. The study suggests that this method resulted in a permanent cessation of navicular disease symptoms in over half of the treated cases.

Understanding Navicular Disease

• The navicular disease is a common ailment affecting horses, usually characterized by pain and lameness in the horse’s foot. It’s generally accepted that this disease is a result of degenerative changes in the navicular bone and its supporting structures.
• The authors of the study challenge the notion that navicular disease is an irreversible condition. They put forth the hypothesis that only secondary changes such as adhesions to the deep flexor tendon or spur formations associated with navicular disease are irreversible.

Egg-Bar Shoeing Technique

• The focus of the research is the egg-bar shoeing technique. This shoeing technique involves the use of specially designed horseshoes that accommodate the horse’s foot in a way that helps manage and alleviate the symptoms of navicular disease.
• The egg-bar shoe extends behind the heel of the horse’s foot, balancing weight distribution and reducing stress on the navicular bone and related structures. This is presumed to help in easing the symptoms and possibly reversing the progress of the disease.

Results of the Study

• The research findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the egg-bar shoeing technique in the treatment of navicular disease.
• The study reported a significant improvement in over half of the treated cases, with the application of the egg-bar shoeing technique leading to a permanent cessation of navicular disease symptoms. This data supports the authors’ hypothesis that navicular disease may be reversible.
• The results of the study have significant implications for the treatment of navicular disease, suggesting that the egg-bar shoeing technique is a useful and viable method that can be applied in practice.