Some Basic Facts Relating To Navicular Disease
by Daphne Bowen
The navicular bone is one of the tarsal bones in humans and other animals located in the ankle region. It lies between the talus and cuneiform bones. Understanding the anatomy of the foot is vital for one to institute proper management of <A href="http://www.naviculardisease.com">navicular disease</A> in horses. This condition is caused by damage to the bone and its supportive structures. The effect of this is progressive lameness primarily in the forefeet.
The cause of this condition is not clear but there are a number of theories that exist. One of this theories purports that the disease is the result of repetitive movements of the bone and the surrounding structures. This is what is used to explain the high prevalence of the condition among horses that take part in competitive races. Diet and genetic disorders are the other major contributing factors.
The resultant inflammation reduces blood flow to the ankle. The other effect is an increase in pressure in the heel. Pain sets in and horses start exhibiting lameness. The lameness is intermittent at first but becomes more constant with time. Horses start having a tip-toeing gait as they attempt to shift the pressure onto the anterior aspect. Stumbling will be seen every now and then.
There are a number of conformational defects that serve as a risk factor for the disease. Most of the known defects increase the risk of concussion and by extension, bone damage. Narrow feet, small feet and long toes are all examples of conformations that increase pressure on the tarsal bones. This effect is multiplied several times during movement due to the large amount of shock produced.
If horses are trained on hard and irregular terrain, the risk is increased. This is because there is a tremendous amount of stress put on the main tendons predisposing them to wear and tear. This effect may also be seen in horses that spend a lot of time in the upright position. In this case, the cause is increased load transmission through the hoof. This is worsened by a high weight to foot ratio.
Poor selection of shoes or trimming is another cause of lameness. This is more common in the domestic horse as compared to that which lives on the wild. There are experts who have proposed the adoption of barefoot trimming among domestic horses. The argument is that the hooves should be allowed to expand and contract during movement. This movement is said to assist in blood flow a feature that is not present when metallic shoes are used.
There are very many causes of this problem and as such the treatments are not uniform. For instance, when the causative agent is a degenerative change, only supportive treatment is given. Reversal of the damage is virtually impossible. Proper trimming of feet helps to achieve biomechanical and neurological balance. Exercise should be reduced as much as possible.
Drugs also have a role to play. Drugs known as vasodilators help to maintain the patency of blood vessels and maintain blood flow to the affected regions. Other groups of drugs that have been shown to have beneficial effects include gallium nitrate, bisphosphonates, corticosteroids and NSAIDS. Surgery is performed when all the other conservative measures have proved futile.
If you are searching for information about <a href="http://www.naviculardisease.com">navicular disease</a>, you should pay a visit to our web pages online here today. Additional details are available at http://www.naviculardisease.com now.
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New Unique Article!
Title: Some Basic Facts Relating To Navicular Disease
Author: Daphne Bowen
Email: nathanwebster335@live.com
Keywords: medicine, health, treatment, healthy
Word Count: 543
Category: Medicine
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