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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
1   Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
,
F. Pille
2   Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
,
K. Vanderperren
1   Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
,
S. Hauspie
1   Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
,
L. Duchateau
3   Department of Physiology and Biometry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
,
E. Van der Vekens
1   Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
,
J. H. Saunders
1   Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 13 March 2010

Accepted: 19 January 2010

Publication Date:
19 December 2017 (online)

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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
 

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