Sunday 21 April 2019

Useful Information Regarding Navicular Disease Treatment

By Michael Cooper


Navicular syndrome is one of the most popularly happening horse conditions. Seasonal lameness in equines is a major condition caused by this condition especially in horses. A degenerative disorder of structures located within heels of horses is what this syndrome is. Navicular disease and caudal heel pain syndrome are the other names used in reference to the condition. Degeneration of inflammation of navicular bones and structures that surround it are caused by this condition. This is what Navicular disease treatment are all about.

This condition is only limited to the feet of the animal. Some of the structures that it affects include distal limpar ligament, deep digital flexor tendon, and navicular bursa. Deep digital flexor tendos runs down the leg to wrap around the navicular bone. This bone is usually placed at the back of the heel. Changes in the bursa and the navicula bone often cause pain in the ligaments and tendons in this area.

There are several signs that are characteristics of this disease. Chronic recurrent forelimb lameness is the major sign. In most cases, the lameness normally affects one limb but both limbs may be affected in some cases. Whenever the horse rests, the affected foot is normally pointed. Usually, hoof abnormalities also develop on the affected feet.

In addition, other symptoms include underrun heels, medial lateral foot imbalance, one foot shrinking in size than the other, and broken hoof pastern axis. These symptoms may be difficult to recognize when the disorder is starting, but they become easier to recognize as the disorder worsens. A huge deal of damage is usually already done to the horse when the signs get visible.

To diagnose this condition, a series of investigations have to be performed. These investigations include clinical examination, historical assessment, x-rays, and response to blocks in nerves. During a full clinical examination, the horse is examined while standing outside and inside the stable. The feet of the animal is observed when it is standing and bearing no weight. The animal is made to trot and walk on a straight course for observation.

The limb that is viewed most lame has palmer digital nerve block performed on. The small dose of local anesthesia is administered in order to localize the pain. The animal is given between 5 to 10 minutes prior to reevaluating it after the anesthetic has been administered.

After the palmer digital nerve block is performed, x-ray images of the feet of the animal are captured. The focus of the images taken is all angles possible of the limbs. X-ray images are captured from the back, front, and side for instance. In the images, tendons, bones and muscles are offered special focus. 3D images have been produced due to better technology.

X-rays are useful, but they do not provide the level of detain that is often required in some cases. For instance, x-ray images may not be able to identify subtle bony changes or concurrent soft tissue injuries. In such cases, MRI scans are usually used in addition to x-ray images being taken. These days MRI scans are the standard diagnostic imaging procedure.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment