X-rays...

grhands

grhands

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...does anything strike you as unusual on these two x-rays? I'm a nurse and think I may have spotted something the vet didn't, but I want to check I'm not imagining things. Thanks!!
HANDSERIC0004.jpg

HANDSERIC0005.jpg
 
I'm not sure I would call it unusual but on the image labelled Left there appears to be a fracture of the lateral aspect of the navicular bone that is not present on the right.
 
I only look at human images, in my personal opinion, the line you are referring to is too smooth to be a fracture. it has smooth edges and does not follow the format of a normal fracture line however it is very difficult to make a decision with such a small image.
There is a small area of increased density there though.
 
I think looking at the bottom of the 2 plates you can see a light line in the same place, this would lead me to suspect that this is the position of the collateral groves, that being the case it could be a gas line at the bottom of the grove, this of course would be verified by a Nav. shot taken down the rear of the leg to isolate the Nav. bone
 
If you mean the right hand line on the x-ray (see arrow below) then this is an air shadow created by the lateral collateral sulcus of the frog. It is difficult to tell on this particular x-ray unless you zoom right in, but you can see the dark line extends beyond the edges of the bone, so cannot be a fracture. You can also see the medial collateral sulcus (other arrow) which is sat in a less confusing position.

Dfujc.jpg


There is not much else that I can see on the x-rays. A small amount of enthesiophytic change (calcification of a ligament) in the lateral collateral sesamoidean ligament (suspensory ligament of the navicular) is present - see arrow below.

5xqyK.jpg
 
How great that Alsiola could help here :)


Since you have pretty much clean xrays, then if he nerve blocks to the foot it is logical to conclude that he has soft tissue damage, which most horses lame inside the foot do whether the navicular is damaged or not.

If your vet continues to talk about bar shoes and drugs please please please check out Rockleyfarm.blogspot.com first and consider leaving his shoes off for a while.
 
I know it's not as bad as first thought. I am extremely grateful for everyone's support. You've all been fantastic through a tough time and I will be paying it back where possible on the forum.:p

I just need to find out what calcification of the navicular ligament means for Eric's future and then we can move onwards.

Bryndu and all bare footers. Poor Eric is so footsore at the moment. He stopped dead at the gravel earlier and wouldn't move, even though he knew his lovely big paddock was just around the corner. It took some convincing, he was like 'no way mum, too sore'. Would this get better over time? Would boots help with this??
 
grhands said:
I know it's not as bad as first thought. I am extremely grateful for everyone's support. You've all been fantastic through a tough time and I will be paying it back where possible on the forum.:p

I just need to find out what calcification of the navicular ligament means for Eric's future and then we can move onwards.

Bryndu and all bare footers. Poor Eric is so footsore at the moment. He stopped dead at the gravel earlier and wouldn't move, even though he knew his lovely big paddock was just around the corner. It took some convincing, he was like 'no way mum, too sore'. Would this get better over time? Would boots help with this??
Click to expand...

Hi again,
Not sure if you have your own place....but my A was diagnosed Cushings at 7 and had MEGA sore feet on a hard surface and was fine on the grass.
He has Easybed to support his toots in bed...and I made a pathway to the field which consisted of half round rails about 3 feet apart with Easibed in the middle, so he has his own A Way to the field. I also give him Equistro Biotin and my farrier says his feet have really improved in the last 6 months.
He is not sore on his feet anymore...(he is not shod...but not Barefoot either...just trimmed) but he still walks on his A Way! Give it a go if you can.
Also by using Easibed it doesn't blow around like shavings might.
Oh and get a GOOD farrier, show him/her the xrays...and discuss.
Hope this helps
Bryndu :)
 
grhands said:
Bryndu and all bare footers. Poor Eric is so footsore at the moment. He stopped dead at the gravel earlier and wouldn't move, even though he knew his lovely big paddock was just around the corner. It took some convincing, he was like 'no way mum, too sore'. Would this get better over time? Would boots help with this??
Click to expand...


if the problem is getting him to the field then some people pop boots on if it is any distance. Another method is carpeting if it is not too far. ie get secondhand carpet for free from skips outside carpet warehouses (they are usually very helpful) and make a carpet walkway over the gravel.
 
grhands said:
I know it's not as bad as first thought. I am extremely grateful for everyone's support. You've all been fantastic through a tough time and I will be paying it back where possible on the forum.:p

I just need to find out what calcification of the navicular ligament means for Eric's future and then we can move onwards.

Bryndu and all bare footers. Poor Eric is so footsore at the moment. He stopped dead at the gravel earlier and wouldn't move, even though he knew his lovely big paddock was just around the corner. It took some convincing, he was like 'no way mum, too sore'. Would this get better over time? Would boots help with this??
Click to expand...

It will get better in days or at the worst in a few weeks. Meanwhile Cavallos may be a good idea to and from the field. Relatively cheap and very easy to put on and take off.

If sensitivity persists, look at his diet. In fact you could do well to get him on a good diet right away anyway, which basically means high fibre and low carbs and particularly dropping foods that have molasses in them. Feed him either brewers yeast 50g or yea-sacc 15g and 25 grams of magnesium oxide a day (eBay).

I believe that ligament calcification is just a fact of age in many horses and possibly nothing to worry about, fingers crossed.
 
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