Navicular Disease and Fracture

I have a 17-year-old that has a fractured navicular bone that has calcified. I have seen magnetic bell boots available on the market and was wondering if these would help with the pain. Is there any type of treatment or surgery that can repair this?
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Q: I have a 17-year-old Paint who was diagnosed with navicular disease when he was 2. Recently I had him X rayed again and found out that he has a fractured navicular bone that has calcified. I have seen magnetic bell boots available on the market and was wondering if these would help with the pain. Also, is there any type of treatment or surgery that can repair this?

—Jean Thomas, via e-mail

A: Navicular syndrome, a degenerative disorder of the navicular bone and the surrounding heel structures, is one of the most common causes of lameness in horses. The navicular bone is a small bone that lies within the horse’s hoof, behind the coffin joint and near the back of the heel. The deep digital flexor tendon runs down the back of the limb and behind the navicular bone, using it as a fulcrum to flex the coffin joint. Navicular syndrome generally causes a chronic lameness affecting both forelimbs, though the horse is often more sore in one foot than the other. Owners may notice that their horse has a stiff or shuffling, short-strided gait. A mild intermittent lameness may be present first, along with difficulty turning sharply, but the lameness can worsen to severe and debilitating over time. Several factors can contribute to navicular syndrome development, including poor conformation, heavy work, and improper trimming and shoeing.

Navicular syndrome is managed rather than cured. Therapeutic hoof trimming or shoeing is a cornerstone of treatment, and your veterinarian and farrier should work together to restore hoof balance, reduce strain on the navicular region, and protect the injured areas. Joint and/or bursa injections might help reduce heel pain and inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as phenylbutazone can provide occasional pain relief. Sometimes other medical treatments are used, but no single treatment works for all horses. Palmar digital neurectomy, a surgical procedure to cut the nerve that provides sensation to the heel, should be used as a last resort for pain control. This procedure may have several adverse effects and does not offer a permanent solution to lameness, as many horses regain sensation in two to three years

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