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Discussion on Navicular Cyst?
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New Member:
Vablonde
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Posted on Monday, Jun 20, 2005 - 8:26 am:
I recently bought(rescued) a 9 year old Hanoverian Gelding. Long story short: Horrible hoof bruising (could see it through his white hooves), no farrier care, overgrown shoes, no nutrition, underweight, BUT the biggest, kindest horse I've ever owned. Anyways, he's quickly recovering thanks to some great supplements, vet and farrier care, but he's still very sore with a slight head bob at the trot on his left front.
My vet did x-rays and found a navicular cyst on his left front foot. The fun part about helping this horse to recover is the wealth of knowledge I'm gaining! We are correcting his right front pastern angle with corrective shoes and that threw off his left front, but a coffin joint nerve block proved successful, so hopefully more time and care will help him along. NO ARTHRITIS anywhere either!
Anyways, I'm curious is anyone has dealt with a navicular cyst before? I haven't been able to find any information on them in particular, but a lot of helpful information on navicular synDrOme in general.
Thanks in advance!
WM
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Jun 20, 2005 - 10:39 am:
Welcome Wendy,
There are many types of cyst in the navicular bone and also it is common for the sulcus of the frog to put a shadow on the radiograph to give the appearance of a cyst in this bone. Can you better describe the location, size, and whether it results in a defect on the flexor surface. This last question requires a good skyline-flexor surface view to answer and is the most important from a prognostic point of view.
DrO
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New Member:
Vablonde
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Posted on Monday, Jun 20, 2005 - 11:19 am:
Thank you DrO.
I'll check with my vet when he comes out again for a little more detail on the size and location of the cyst. If I remember correctly, it was no bigger than a dime and did not result in any defects at least in my understanding of it. He described it as just "being there" and due to the nature of his other ailments, he noted it as part of the x-ray series for future reference. In other words, until we correct the things we know we can correct (bruising, bad angles and malnourishment), there wasn't any point in worrying about the cyst just yet.
I did find the girl who imported him from Germany as a 3 year old, and she confirmed that her vet found the same cyst when he was 5 years old. His old x-rays are on the way to my vet. She gave him away after the diagnosis and a series of unfortunate events in her personal life and eventually lost track of him.
I understood that navicular was almost always in both front feet, so does a navicular cyst classify it as textbook "navicular synDrOme?" There are some very minor navicular changes on his right front, but "acceptable" as my vet put it for a horse of his size/age.
Thanks so much!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2005 - 8:46 am:
The cyst would be considered a specific disease, a defect that may be associated with lameness, particularly if the cyst involves the flexor surface. The defect could be described as one of osteochondral ossification and could be either congenital, developmental, or even traumatic. A dime size cyst is a significant size for such a small bone.
DrO
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Member:
Kcovell
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Posted on Friday, Jun 24, 2005 - 3:57 pm:
Hello Wendy & DrO
Last year my horse came up lame in the left front leg (there should be a post here somewhere) and after all was said and done she was found to have a navicular cyst and ended up being nerved on the back only of her foot. Since then I have barrel raced on her with no problems.
My vet basically said the same as yours and pointed out the cyst, however it didn't look quite as big as a dime.
Just as an update she came up lame on her right front leg last Sunday and she was brought back to the vet where after a nerve block near the top of the hoof was done and she was sound and (I really hate to say this DrO) she is being nerved on that foot as well.
Since this is the only way she will have no pain (injections didn't work) I had to have it done. She will also wear navicular shoes and of course I will monitor her for any problems.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jun 24, 2005 - 9:39 pm:
Seems a little quick for nerving KC is there a firm diagnosis?
DrO
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Member:
Kcovell
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 25, 2005 - 5:23 pm:
Another cyst I may get this wrong, but some damage from when the left foot had the cyst and she would use the right one to keep pressure off of the left. Those are my words and how I understand it. She had the cyst on the left for along time (I guess) before she became totally lame, but I didn't know about it I just did the usual and gave her some bute and didn't ride her and she would get better for awhile.
I'm going to ask him to explain it to me again and take notes this time. My horseshoer basically said the same thing about using the right leg more to relieve the pain in the left.
You know I go brain dead trying to remember because I get so upset and I didn't even think about taking notes like I did the first time.
I read somewhere that this could be genetic, have you ever heard his DrO? Of course I probably read it here and don't remember, but just in case it was somewhere else.
KC
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Jun 26, 2005 - 1:41 pm:
Though it is possible I think most are developmental or traumatic.
DrO
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New Member:
Vablonde
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Posted on Monday, Jun 27, 2005 - 6:43 am:
Thanks KC!
I have been researching high and low on the internet and find all kinds of thing regarding "classic navicular", but next to nothing on navicular cysts (Until I came here)
My horse is still in the recovery stage for a variety of other neglect related problems, so it's hard to tell right now what if anything will be done for his navicular cyst.
His bruising is improving every day, putting on weight, and just a very happy boy.
I'm interested in the neurectomy process as that may be an option down the road. My vet seems to think it's a pretty good way to go if it ever comes to that.
Maybe if you get a chance, you could tell me a little more about the procedure?
Thanks!
Wendy
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Member:
Shirl
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Posted on Monday, Jun 27, 2005 - 12:51 pm:
Wendy, I'm not Dr. O or KC, but I can tell you of my experience with the nerving. Sierra had a partial neurectomy on both fronts and she did very well. It's a long recovery process, stalled for a certain number of days, bandage changes, anti-inflammatories daily, hand walking 2x a day for 2-3 weeks, etc. But she was sound for a long time, (over 10 yrs.) nerves didn't grow back, which they can do. She passed last Oct from Cushings/Laminitis. She was operated on in Gilbert AZ by Dr. Taylor. Good Luck, any questions you have, ask away.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 - 5:41 am:
There is a description of neurectomy in the article associated with this forum, Navicular Disease / SynDrOme but for an interesting perspective see, Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Neurectomy and Nerving: A Farriers View.
DrO
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New Member:
Vablonde
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005 - 7:31 am:
Thanks everyone!
I passed on the article to a friend of mine too who thought it was very well written (as did I)
I've uploaded a couple of pictures of my boy. It's hard to see his feet in the second shot, but you can get the general idea of his road to recovery from these two shots. Somewhere I have a picture of his front feet when they were first trimmed (One trimmed and one not trimmed)
He's just a "small boy" at 17.3H 
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Member:
Kcovell
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005 - 1:48 pm:
Wendy what a change from March to June. He sure is good looking.
What Shirley said is correct only I didn't change any bandages. I left my horse at the vet's until the staples were removed and they sent her home with a bandage to leave on one more night and then the fun part was the hand walking. Last time it was the middle of summer and here I am again. Just bugs and heat.
Sometimes Flame would get a little playful, but I would just make sure the lead rope was short enough so she couldn't do very much, but walk. I'd also let her eat grass, but had to be careful of the grass bogeyman that would "scare" her.
I'll get back with you after I pick my horse up and see how she is. I figure it should be Friday or Saturday.
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but I've been having some very uncomfortable dental work done.}}}
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Member:
Kcovell
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005 - 1:51 pm:
DrO
Would you give me a description of both developmental and traumatic? I think I know what you mean, but I always want to be sure.
Thanks
KC
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Member:
Kcovell
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 30, 2005 - 7:02 am:
Wendy
I was having a brain malfunction when I wrote the last post to you. If I remember right I did have to bandage her for awhile.
Sorry, but age gets too me sometimes.
KC
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 30, 2005 - 11:03 am:
developmental disease: A disease that has its origning in the act or process of natural progression in physical maturation from a previous, lower, or embryonic stage to a later, more complex, or adult stage.
traumatic disease: A disease that has its origins in physical trauma.
As pertaining to a navicular cyst this would be an area that did not develop properly or had a traumatic event that resulted in improper healing.
DrO
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Member:
Shirl
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 30, 2005 - 2:51 pm:
KC, so glad I'm not alone in the "brain malfunction"! I know the owner where Sierra was boarded did the bandage changing for me, and I think it was twice weekly, but like you - not sure. I know it was a long process, mid July, and she felt good so wanted to go,go,go. ACK
Best to all, Shirl
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Member:
Vablonde
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Posted on Friday, Jul 29, 2005 - 9:32 pm:
Update: July 29, 2005
My horse had his right front coffin joint injected three weeks ago and he's been running the fence line, strutting his stuff for the ladies and no signs of lameness! My vet recommended the coffin joint injection on his right front after correcting his pastern angle with a two degree wedge, which set him off on his left front. I had to write it all down, because I keep getting lost.
Anyways, he said to give the joint injection a week to fourteen days and thanks to my own vacation it's been three weeks, so I put him on the lunge line where he bucked, kicked and ran so I think he's really feeling good! No head bobbing, no shortness in stride, the only thing that's off is he steps harder onto his right front foot, and I'm guessing to get off his left front heel?
I'm wondering if maybe an eggbar shoe on his left front will help or possibly some natural balance shoes? My vet has cleared him for very slow, low work (mostly walk) and we'll see how he goes.
The good news is, that the other problems he's had are being corrected, his feet look wonderful and if he continues to stay sound in light work we might be on the right track.
Any suggestions for shoes on that left front when he lands heavy on the right front? You really have to look hard to see it, but after watching him so closely, I'm just ecstatic to see him pain free and being a horse!
Thanks!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 31, 2005 - 11:25 am:
These are really decisions that have to be made examining the horse Wendy but in general most foot pain related to the joints is best addressed with a properly balanced foot and a toe that is rolled.
DrO
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