Distal Navicular Avulsion Fracture

[Hunter11]

My horse was just diagnosed with this, along with a minor DDFT strain and bone bruising via MRI after experiencing some mystery front right limb lameness (no heat, swelling, or reaction to hoof testers but 3/5 lame). He blocked immediately at the foot, nothing could be seen on x-ray so we moved forward with MRI where the vet thought he saw a tiny, localized DDFT tear along with some significant bone bruising but we were waiting for the radiology report for the final call. The radiologist found a very slight DDFT strain but attributed the lameness to a distal navicular avulsion fracture.

I can barely find any information on this - does anyone have any experience? TIA.

[Sister7]

I went through this with my TB years ago. He came in 4+/5 lame, it presented like an abscess. He broke the crossties when I tried to soak it, so I knew something else was wrong. His chip was big enough that it could be seen on old school film rads. For treatment we put him in bar shoes and special pads. He was immediately sound at the walk after getting those shoes on. He was on stall rest for 6 months, then another 3 months in a small paddock before riding/full turn out.

He healed wonderfully and never had any problems from it in the 14 years afterwards. I decided to retire him from jumping and was able to train up to 2nd level dressage.

The stall rest was really hard, if I had to that again I would have asked for some type of sedative, especially when we started hand walking. He was frankly dangerous. Ymmv if your horse is more sensible than mine.