Endoscopic assessment and treatment of lesions of the deep digital flexor tendon in the navicular bursae of 20 lame horses.
BACKGROUND
Clinical lesions of the deep digital flexor tendon and navicular bone are being reported with increasing frequency. However, the role of direct visualisation by navicular bursoscopy in the diagnosis and management of such injuries has not been explored.


OBJECTIVE
Navicular bursoscopy: 1) corroborates information obtained from other, noninvasive imaging modalities; 2) allows direct visualisation of lesions unidentified by other diagnostic modalities; 3) provides further information on morphology of lesions; and 4) permits minimally invasive surgical access to lesions.


METHODS
The case records of all horses that underwent diagnostic navicular bursoscopy for the investigation of lameness admitted to 2 referral clinics (the Royal Veterinary College and Reynolds House Referrals) were evaluated retrospectively. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone questionnaire.


RESULTS
Twenty-three bursae were examined endoscopically in 20 horses. Tears of the deep digital flexor tendon were seen in all horses (22 bursae). In 8 bursae, cartilage lesions were also present and in one bursa this was the only abnormal finding. Computed tomography and low field magnetic resonance imaging predicted tendon lesions in most cases, but failed to identify cartilage damage. Greater than 6 month follow-up information was available for 15 animals of which 11 were sound and 9 had returned to preoperative levels of performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Lameness localised to the foot may result from tears of the deep digital flexor tendon and/or navicular fibrocartilage loss. Navicular bursoscopy allows comprehensive evaluation of these changes and also permits appropriate lesion management.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic information obtained from and therapeutic options offered by bursoscopy justify its use in horses with clinical findings localising lameness to the navicular bursa.
Smith
M R W
MR
Reynolds House Referrals, Greenwood Ellis and Partners, 166 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9WS, UK.
Wright
I M
IM
Smith
R K W
RK
D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008023:Ligaments, Articular; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013640:Tarsal Joints / Q000473:pathology*; D013643:Tarsus, Animal; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome