Spontaneous fracture of the navicular bone in the horse.

The research examines spontaneous fractures in the navicular bone of horses, describing the symptoms, pathological-anatomical changes, and treatment outcomes. Three case studies are presented demonstrating the potential for horses to regain full working capacity post-treatment, despite the fracture line remaining evident in radiographs.

Introduction and Literature Review

• The research begins with a brief review of previous studies on spontaneous fractures in the navicular bone of horses. This bone is part of the horse’s hoof and is central to the animal’s ability to bear weight and move comfortably. This review provides a context for the present study.

Symptoms and Pathological-Anatomical Changes

• The key symptoms of this condition include severe acute lameness without significant swelling. Pain is notably present when the coffin joint is rotated. Without treatment, the lameness can persist for years but can reduce significantly through rest.
• The pathological-anatomical changes associated with this fracture involve adhesions between the deep flexor tendon and the fracture site. Damage to the coffin joint is the likely cause of sustained lameness.

Treatment and Case Studies

• The paper includes three case reports showcasing horses treated for fractures to the navicular bone. Treatment consisted of shoeing the horses with full bar shoes supplemented with clips and high calks, resting them for two months, and initiating a gradual load-based rehabilitation despite initial lameness.
• Following the treatment, all three horses recovered their full working capacity after approximately six months.

Post-Fracture and Radiographic Findings

• The evidence from the study indicates that no formation of callus, a thickened and hardened layer of skin, occurs at the fracture site. Instead, a firm fibrous tissue forms which doesn’t bother the horse unless the fracture fragments significantly displace causing more extensive damage to the coffin joint.
• Interestingly, radiographic images affirm that the fracture line persists for the remainder of the horse’s life, underlining the severity of this type of injury whilst demonstrating the resilience of the animal post-treatment.