Association between navicular bone fragmentation and shape in Belgian Warmblood horses

S. Claerhoudt; F. Pille; K. Vanderperren; S. Hauspie; L. Duchateau; E. Van der Vekens; J. H. Saunders

doi:10.3415/VCOT-10-03-0037

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2011; 24(02): 132-136
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-10-03-0037

Original Research

Schattauer GmbH

Association between navicular bone fragmentation and shape in Belgian Warmblood horses

S. Claerhoudt

¹Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium

,

F. Pille

²Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium

,

K. Vanderperren

¹Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium

,

S. Hauspie

¹Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium

,

L. Duchateau

³Department of Physiology and Biometry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium

,

E. Van der Vekens

¹Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium

,

J. H. Saunders

¹Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Objectives: To investigate whether in navicular bones (NB) from warmbloods, distal border fragmentation is associated with the shape of the proximal articular border or other radiological findings.

Methods: Radiographs of the front feet of 325 normal, subadult horses presented for admission as breeding stallions were reviewed.

Results: The proximal articular border of the total of 650 NB was classified as straight (n = 278), convex (n = 184), undulating (n = 147) or concave (n = 41). Distal border fragments were present in 57 NB (8.8%). They were significantly more prevalent in NB with a concave (9/41; 22%) or undulating (19/147; 13%) proximal articular border compared to NB with a straight (17/278; 6%) or convex shape (12/184; 7%). No other significant associations were found.

Clinical significance: Hypothetically, since a shape-fragment association was found and the distribution of biomechanical forces exerted on the navicular bone are assumed to be shape dependent, distal border fragments may be a result of unfavourable loading of the navicular region.

Keywords

Navicular bone - radiography - warmblood horse

Full Text

References

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