Posted by Chris Newman on January 23, 2003 at 03:25:11:
In Reply to: Re: Cracked Navicular Bone posted by Jason Maki CJF on January 13, 2003 at 00:42:51:
: : : Just took over a 16 yrs old fox trotter with a cracked navicular bone on right front hoof. Any suggestions on shoeing for this problem and will this ever heel.
: : Mike,
: : I've never worked on a broken navicular bone; but have had success with somewhat severe cases. I do my own bastardization of "Natural Ballance" and would recomond that site,
: : I lower the heels, to get the frog suported, roll the toe, hold the toe of the shoe back, use a frog suport pad with impresion putty or Equthane sole pack. Like a charm it works.
: : My $0.02
: : Bill
: Mike,
: I would certainly NOT fly solo on this one. A good equine vet will have more resources and experience with fractures(radiographs, previous fracture experience etc). Also, if it all goes south, you have a co-conspiritor to share the greif with...
: All fractures will heal, the question is will it heel properly. That is a medical question best ansewered by a D.V.M. However, after he/she supplies the needed info, I would utilize these thoughts:
: I would trim the foot to balance, remove all flares( using my knee, not a hoof stand on this foot). I would then purchase/ build a three degree eggbar to break the axis forward. Fit your shoe with considerable base under the load. Raising the angle TEMPORARILY would remove stress from the DFT,loading the suspensory ligament, thus removing stress on the fulcrum, or navicular bone. I would also rocker the toe web halfway, deep seating behind the rocker and fit to the foot. I would then use a hospital plate fit just behind the rocker to protect the damaged basil surface of the foot. This plate could also be removed for exams, palpation, etc. A vertical bar across the fracture would notoffer total protection. In this case, i would avoid any frog support or pressure, as this could place stress on the fractured navicular bone which is located just behind duckett's dot. Nailing may not be practicable without a nerve block or Dormo. Unless you can make a light weight package, glueing may not work.( I have never glued on a shoe, so i am guessing?!)
: The horse will be less willing to load a foot with a fracture, so he will over load the other foot. You might consider a heart bar with light, or "one dime" frog pressure. That is to say, when the shoe is rested on the foot , with the frog plate stopping at Ducketts dot, you could place one dime between the buttress and the shoe. I would also rocker the toe of this shoe.
: Another option might be a Patton bar. This may be overkill, and would be difficult on keep on a front foot. I would discuss that option with the attending D.V.M.as well.
: After the fracture has healed, you could lower the angle back to proper, being sure to go slow as you transfer stress back to the DFT. I would ALWAYS rocker the toes on this horse, to keep the stresses down on the navicular bone. After he is willing to load the opposite foot, the heart bar would become unneccasary as well.
: I hope some of that might help. Use your best judgement, work with the vet and good luck.
: Jason Maki
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Yikes ! My first thought would be to advise the owner to
change the horse's address!
Failing that, short toes (on both fronts and both rears
to ensure easy breaking and minimize overreach threat which
could refracture the front nav bone if the horse decides
he feels good or gets a scare)
Extra high heels...and two toe clips on fronts to keep the
hoof from splitting while you are placing that extra
pressure on the toes. "Natural Balance" works for
a working foot...but this foot is seriously injured.
Feed changes must also be made. No grass, no oats.
Reduce the laminitis risk so he's not resting on his
heels and causing all that junk to slow healing.
That horse will be sore on the second or third day
due the abrupt change in angle. Bute should be enough
to get him over it.
This advise was passed on to me by one of Canada's top
race farrier's , who has been successful in repairing
such an injury. (Then again, he'd also raced and won
with a horse after 6 months who had foundered so bad
the coffin bone protruded through the sole).