27/08/2025
For horses that have unsuccessfully been treated with multiple therapies to manage their navicular disease, surgical options may benefit them. Horses that become sound when local anesthetic is placed over the nerves in the back of the foot (posterior digital or “heel” nerves) can have those nerves cut (neurectomy) to remove sensation to the painful part of the foot. The results vary, but some studies report 74-77% of horses that had a neurectomy were sound one year after surgery, and 63% were sound after two years.1,2
Another surgical technique involves cutting the ligaments that suspend the navicular bone, attempting to decrease the forces on the bone. In the study, looking at the largest group of horses that had this procedure, 76% were sound six months after surgery, but only 43% were sound after three years. As with all surgical procedures, there can be complications and some horses will not be sound after the surgery.
1 Jackman B, Baxter G, Doran R, et al. Palmar digital neurectomy in horses 57 cases (1984-1990). Vet Surg 1993;22(4):285-288.
2Matthews S, Dart A, Dowling B. Palmar digital neurectomy in 24 horses using the guillotine technique. Aust Vet J 2003;81:402-405.
