Intraosseous pressure and pathologic changes in horses with navicular disease

Area of Science:

• Equine orthopedics
• Veterinary pathology
• Biomechanical analysis

Background:

• Navicular disease is a common cause of forelimb lameness in horses.
• The pathophysiology of navicular disease is not fully understood, but increased intraosseous pressure is suspected.
• Accurate assessment of navicular bone health is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between navicular bone intraosseous pressure and pathological changes in horses with navicular disease.
• To compare intraosseous pressure and tissue damage between horses with and without navicular disease.

Main Methods:

• Collected intraosseous pressure, arterial, and venous pressure data from horses with navicular disease and controls under anesthesia.
• Performed gross pathologic, histologic, and histochemical evaluations of navicular bones.
• Assessed flexor surface changes, cartilage integrity, and marrow space morphology.

Main Results:

• Horses with navicular disease had significantly higher navicular bone intraosseous pressure (P < 0.001).
• Flexor surface and fibrocartilage damage scores were significantly more severe in affected horses (P < 0.001).
• Marrow space fibrosis was more pronounced in horses with navicular disease.

Conclusions:

• Elevated navicular bone intraosseous pressure is a significant finding in horses with navicular disease.
• Increased pressure correlates with severe fibrocartilage degeneration and marrow fibrosis.
• These findings suggest a potential role for pressure regulation in managing navicular disease.