Posted by Scott C on February 12, 2003 at 03:09:08:
In Reply to: Re: Cracked Navicular Bone posted by Patty Stiller on February 04, 2003 at 23:20:13:
A couple things:
: Just took over a 16 yrs old fox trotter with a cracked navicular bone on right front hoof.
I like the idea of no frog pressure and all the "rolly" stuff Patty said. (How's that for high "tach"?)
I was impressed that Jason came up with the Patton shoe because that was the first thing that came to my mind but wonder how practical it would be on the front end.... overloading the opposite front and all...
I successfully treated a nav bone that had a torn collateral ligament using the Patton but it was a hind foot.
The thing to remember also here is:
the horse is 16 years old.
The Navicular bone has no periostium so it will be very slow to heal.
If the horse has any ossification on this limb anywhere it will be worse at the end of the healing process due to inactivity. Any arthritic condition will be worsened from inactivity.
Rehab on this animal will be a long road.
I'd guess you are looking at this horse being at least 18 before it can return to any kind of strenuous work, if ever again.
And that's the question. What kind of life did this horse have before this injury?
And while I'm at it, how did this happen?
Are the owners prepared to keep this animal if it does not return to work and meet all the financial obligations in between?
Whichever shoeing protocol you go with will be one that needs repeated about every three weeks to a month at least for 7-8 months or more to keep the capsule as stable as possible.
Side clips would be a definite.
Monthly radiographs.
Bar shoe with hospital plate to protect the underside
Rolling toe/rails (ohmygod are we talking a banana shoe!?!?!) ... close... but no cigar...lol
Lots of support for opposing bony column. You won't be able to overdo that.
Stall rest. Hand Walking. Keep him quiet.
I'd look into shark cartilage during the recouperation time to help with the arthritis. You be the judge.
Be prepared for severe atrophy of the frog, contracted heels, overloaded tendon on opposing leg. Weak tendons on the injured one.
I would consider having a good racehorse groom (if I wasn't one)come in and check this horse's legs regularly. And rub them down.
How much pain is the animal in?
Hope the animal is the quiet kind and not a nutcase that thinks he's all better after 6 mos and goes on a bucking tear across the pasture and the owner thinks all is just swell and doesn't need you anymore...then finds the horse limping the next week and all that effort is undone...
Make you a bet....
bet you don't clear much on this one....but hey... this is one of those special cases.
Broken bones equal broken hearts unless we step in and give it our best.
Oh yeah... no frog pressure. None. Zip. Nada.
Good luck.