An Alternate Radiographic Guided Technique for Injection of the Equine Navicular Bursa Using a 40 mm (1.5-inch)...

Area of Science:

• Equine veterinary medicine
• Diagnostic imaging
• Surgical techniques

Background:

• Injection of the equine navicular bursa is crucial for treating navicular disease.
• Existing techniques present challenges, including inadvertent penetration of other synovial structures and variable success rates, especially for less experienced practitioners.
• Hoof configuration can also impact injection accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel, radiographic-guided technique for equine navicular bursa injection.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this technique in avoiding penetration of the distal interphalangeal joint.
• To compare the technique's success rate across varying operator experience levels.

Main Methods:

• An ex vivo pilot study was conducted using a novel radiographic-guided injection technique.
• A 40 mm (1.5-inch) 20-gauge needle was utilized for the injection.
• Success rate, needle redirection rate, and inadvertent synovial penetration were assessed in operators with 1, 8, and >30 years of experience.

Main Results:

• The novel technique demonstrated a high success rate for navicular bursa injection.
• There was no significant difference in success rates among operators with different experience levels.
• Inadvertent penetration of other synovial structures was highly unlikely, irrespective of operator experience or hoof configuration.

Conclusions:

• The described radiographic-guided technique offers a reliable and safe method for equine navicular bursa injections.
• This technique is suitable for veterinarians across all experience levels, minimizing the risk of complications.
• The method provides a consistent high success rate, regardless of hoof conformation, enhancing treatment outcomes for navicular disease.