Neurectomy

[Luciejjkk]

Does anyone know any horses that have had this done in relation to Navicular Disease?? Or any experiences with it??

From what I have read on the internet, it seems quite controversial.

Thanks in advance,

 

[Lauralegg]

Hi Luciejjk

My friends horse has navicular and she had a neurectomy last summer. The horse took a few days to recover from it and then was fine until about a month ago when she came in lame again. So back to the vet's and unfortunately the nerve has grown back.

So they have now tried a steriod injection and cortizone (sp) injection right into the joint and she is on bute twice a day, and she is sound, and happily being rodden out on a fairly regular basis.

I do believe it is quite controversial, but my friend wants to try absolutely everything before that decison has to be made, and the horse is really happy now!

Hope that helps you!

Laura

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

It is a bit controversial as it is a Salvage procedure, NOT a treatment!

Basically it removes the nerve where the pain sensation is being stimulated. This doesn't help solve the navicular problem just stops it hurting, but the disease process will continue to develop.

The nerves can grow back, sometimes it can identify a lameness in the contra lateral limb..... many different things........ or the disease will progress without the horse realising until it is too late

sorry not sure if thats much help!

 

[Izzwizz]

Lady on our yard has a pony who had it done quite a while ago and she says its the best thing she ever did. Pony does all usual activities and has stayed sound.

 

[Summer Sun]

This option was suggested to me for my old horse with Ringbone. I'd have had it done in a flash - controversial or not as it buys them more time.

MRI however sadly ruled it out - as the nature of his damaged joint meant that running round in painfree ignorance would have caused him to rupture his tendons in no time at all.

I think it has its place - more so for navicular. just be a little bit wary that its not going to be causing more harm than good beneath the surface. Like someone else said - its just a salvage not a cure..

Good luck

 

[cptrayes]

I would use it as a last resort to keep a horse I was desperate about in work, but not until after trying a barefoot rehab, with a low sugar high fibre diet if the horse still had problems with sensitive soles after the first 3 months. Neurectomy for navicular is not an easy option - the whole of the back of the foot is numbed and of course they are then very prone to treading on things and injuring their feet, sometimes fatally, because they can't feel it.

 

[Luciejjkk]

Thanks for everyones comment, all very interesting as I have no experience of this at all so much appreciated.

I havent ever heard about horses going barefoot as being an option?? Mine has bar shoes on for support at the back of the foot.

 

[cptrayes]

Bar shoes are another sticking plaster. They may work long term, they may not. Check out rockleyfarm.co.uk for info on barefoot rehabs. Put a post on here asking for information and you will get answers from several people who have done one, including me. Mine has bone changes visible on radiographs. He has had adequan, tildren and hyaluronic acid navicular bursa injections, and bar shoes, is maxed out on insurance claims, and was still too lame to be a paddock ornament so was going to be put to sleep. I have now had him nearly 14 weeks. At 11 weeks he came second in a dressage competition. At 12 weeks he did a six mile farm ride and jumped. Yesterday he galloped on a tussocky sloping field and the day before that he trotted up a one in six hill on the road. His rapid progress is not unusual for barefoot rehabs as long as you get the diet right and can put the work into them that they need. For this particular horse that was a huge issue, because he is unable to tolerate grass and his feet are weak enough to bend with your fingers if he eats it. Effectively, in human terms he's a diabetic. Most aren't anywhere near that much of a problem, but it is very, very common to have to restrict grazing if you want them to be able to hack without boots on stony tracks.

Many vets and farriers are either ignorant of or not supportive of a barefoot rehab so you may struggle to convince your vet or farrier. If so, look for support either on here (where you may also get doubters) or on UKNHCP.myfastforum.org

 

[cptrayes]

I note with wry amusement that after you posted a query on the uknhcp chat forum, the founder member of the uknhcp and owner of Rockley Farm, the commercial yard for navicular rehabs, has told you that barefoot rehabs are neither quick nor a miracle cure. I first found out about rehabs through knowing Nic Barker, Rockley's owner and if you read her blog at rockleyfarm.blogspot.com you will see that most of her rehabs are ready to go home perfectly sound after 3 months or so, some are jumping again before they leave and one even went hunting on his last day there. I think that would fit most people's definition of "quick".

Many barefoot rehabs have been "last resort before we shoot it" cases, as is my own rehab (sound at under 11 weeks), and I'd be hard put myself not to describe at least some of them as a "miracle cure" given that vets and farriers with years and years of training have reached the end of the line with them and they have been subject to all the treatments money can buy and are still lame ....

You were also given advice that it required work on conformable surfaces. Roadwork is one of the very best surfaces for strengthening weakened feet, and Rockley's arena is made of seashore sand (unless resurfaced since I was last there), which is not a surface that would usually be described as "conformable". If you have access to any kind of arena and some nice smooth tarmac roads you have all the conditioning surfaces you need.

If you are anywhere near me I will happily help you with your horse. It may not work for him but there has to be a very good chance given the success rate to date. But do try to find a supportive vet and trimmer/farrier, because it will be emotionally very difficult for you if you are with a vet and farrier who don't believe that you are doing the right thing.

If your horse's feet don't concave up and develop the ability to work on rough surfaces by the end of three months, look very, very hard at his/her diet. My own rehab has to be grass free otherwise insulin issues cause him to grow very weak feet. With luck your would not need anything so drastic, but do be prepared to have to restric his access to grass sugars.

If you decide to try it, good luck.