Chip Fracture in the coffin joint

[tattyhunt]

My horse has chipped his navicular bone just above the pedal bone so in the coffin joint. Has anyone had any experience or heard of a vet performing an operation in this area to remove a chip like this? Any case histories would be greatly appreciated as my vet seems to think it is quite pioneering surgery, but nothing is making him sound for more than two weeks at a time so surgery seems to be the only option for getting him sound.

 

[Andalucian]

Hi, having dissected many equine feet, I know exactly where the navicular is located and how it interacts with the pedal bone and the short pastern bone and associated ligaments/tendons.

To have chipped the navicular bone is most likely to have happened over time, due to excess pressure being applied by the deep digital flexor tendon over the navicular bone. Its so deep inside the foot its unlikely to have happened by an accident or blow to the foot.

I have to agree with your vet, that to resolve it completely would require surgery, to remove the floating part and it would be quite delicate work, with a long stay in hospital due to the likelihood of post operative infection in the joint.

Before proceeding, I would double check with xrays to see that it is a floating piece of bone, as its a big risk to undertake surgery like this in the foot. I haven't heard of this type of surgery being performed on a horse....so far.

 

[tattyhunt]

Yes it is definitely a floating chip. Nerve blocks confirmed the lameness to be in the foot, the first x rays showed nothing, he then had an mri scan which identified the chip. This was then re x rayed from a different angle which showed the chip. He then was nerve blocked directly into that area with positive results. He was also injected with cortisone at the same time and remained sound for 2 weeks.