Fractured Navicular bone

Question
Hello

I have read your past responses on fractured navicular bones, and you clearly have a lot of experience in this area.

I'm wondering if I can have your opinion on my problems.  My 17hh horse has a fractured hind navicular, and is currently in egg bar shoes, following vets advice.  I see you have already posted your opinions on these shoes, and others you recommend, which I will discuss with my vet and farrier.

The horse has had the injury for just over 3 months, starting on strict box rest, then increasing to 15 mins walk in hand twice a day, and gradually introducing ridden work in walk.  On vets advice, our horse was turned out in the menage for 10 mins a day using sedaline.  Although he didn't do anything crazy, he came in lame after a couple of days out, so this was obviously too much too soon.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

We went back to square one, back on box rest again, needless to say we will not be turning out again any time soon.

Our horse is by no means sound, this is mainly visible on the turn. His lameness will improve with walking, and will look sound on the straight after walking, however still looks lame on the turns.  We are taking things very slowly, we are aware that time will be the greatest healer.

Sorry for the long essay, I guess what I am trying to ask, is there anything else we should be doing to help?  Our vet is coming to see him again this week, so I shall see where we will go from here.  I am speaking with her regularly, and she isn't overly concerned about the lameness on the turns.

And finally, what kind of horse can we expect to recover from this kind of injury?  We don't have unrealistic hopes, but I would love to think we would have him sound to ride again.

Many Thanks

Answer
HELLO "A"...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

Some permanent damage may have already occurred because your horse was allowed to exercise too soon.
Being in a hind hoof causes a different problem. I have worked on several, not many, who
have fractured the navicular bone in a hind hoof. The biggest problem and your vet should tell you, that because the horse's propel off the hind limbs# it's their motor#, the torque and "push-off" pressure is worse than the front hooves !! With stopping and driving off the pressure is
just more extreme.

It is for that reason, it would be a slower healer and maybe ALWAYS slightly off on turns and also it it's stops !!??

Here in the states, we have had some good results in injecting the bursae and coffin joint to allow the acid to migrate to the palmar area. It is literally a "traffic jam" as I've said before
and there is NO WAY to exactly stabilize the navicular area/impar ligament/collateral ligaments,
and such.
Feeding a strong amino acid in the horse's diet will help the hoof capsule and bone to regenerate. NOT A CURE ALL...but an aid in recovery !!

I would definitely re-radiograph the hoof and see where you are at this point, so you can make a healthy choice.

Best to You !!
Joepaul Meyers, C.J.F.