4075 Iron Works Parkway • Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-233-0147 • Fax: 859-233-1968
e-mail: aaepoffice@aaep.org

Navicular Disease White Paper Photos

Images provided courtesy of Tracy A. Turner, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS.

The anatomy of the navicular bone (NB) area is quite complex with many soft tissue structures surrounding the bone including the impar and suspensory ligaments, the navicular bursa and the deep flexor tendon (DDFT).

Navicular Figure 2 - Caption:

The MRI has become the gold standard of navicular imaging but there is much to learn. This MRI shows fluid in the impar ligament and deep flexor insertional area. Unfortunately, MRI is not available in all areas so radiography is still the main imaging modality for navicular issues.

Navicular Figure 3 - Caption:

Normal bursagram. This is a radiographic technique in which dye is injected into the bursa. Here the bursa is seen as the white line and the flexor cartilage is the uniform black area above the white line.

Navicular Figure 4 - Caption:

This bursagra shows one side of the bursa to be widened and the deep flexor tendon (DDFT) does not sit behind the navicular bone normally. This was thought to be due to tearing of the distal annular ligament allowing the tendon to shift. This shows that even without MRI, radiography can be used to get more information in regards to the soft tissues in the area.

Copyright © 1996-2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners.
All rights reserved.
American Association of Equine Practitioners
4075 Iron Works Parkway • Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-233-0147 • Fax: 859-233-1968
e-mail: aaepoffice@aaep.org