Surgical treatment of navicular syndrome in the horse using navicular suspensory desmotomy.

This study discusses the surgical treatment, navicular suspensory desmotomy, on seventeen horses diagnosed with navicular syndrome. After surgery, twelve horses successfully recovered, one horse showed improvement, while four remained lame at a minimum of six months following the procedure.

Research Context

• This study was performed on horses diagnosed with navicular syndrome, a painful condition that often leads to lameness in horses. The diagnosis was based upon clinical findings, history, regional local anaesthesia, and radiography.
• Prior to the study, these horses had been subjected to various treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, corrective shoeing, rest, and isoxsuprine. However, these treatments were unsuccessful.

Procedure and Findings

• The study focused on navicular suspensory desmotomy, a surgical procedure aimed at treating navicular syndrome.
• Before the surgery, the duration of navicular lameness in these horses varied greatly, ranging from 6 weeks to 4 years.
• Following the surgery, the outcomes for the seventeen horses were evaluated. Twelve horses were sound, indicating a successful recovery. One horse showed improvement following the surgery, but was not completely sound. On the other hand, four horses were still lame even after a minimum of six months post-surgery.

Significance of the Study

• The study demonstrated the potential effectiveness of navicular suspensory desmotomy as a treatment procedure for navicular syndrome in horses.
• The results hold significance as they indicate a high rate of successful recovery (12 out of 17 horses becoming sound) following the surgery. Additionally, one horse showed marked improvement post-surgery.
• However, the study also pointed out the limitations of the procedure. Four horses did not regain soundness despite undergoing the surgical treatment, highlighting the need for further research and improvement in the treatment of navicular syndrome in horses.