A Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Transthecal Navicular Bursoscopy for the Diagnosis of Lesions of the Navicular Bursa

For many years the front feet of lame horses have been imaged at the Liphook Equine Hospital with a low field magnet (0.27 Tesla) in a standing system (Hallmark, UK). Transthecal navicular bursoscopy was first described by Smith et al in 2007 in a paper in which the technique was used successfully in a small number of horses. Recently the same authors have described the use of the technique in 92 horses (Smith and Wright 2012). In 2010 Haupt and Caron compared the transthecal approach to the navicular bursa with the then conventional direct approach showing that the transthecal technique provided greater visualisation of the bursa with fewer iatrogenic lesions of the navicular bone and deep digital flexor tendon.

From 2010 onwards, when accessible lesions within the navicular bursa were identified by the author in horses undergoing magnetic resonance imaging at the hospital, owners were offered the option of treatment via transthecal navicular bursoscopy. The author’s experiences with transthecal navicular bursoscopy and the outcome of 17 consecutive cases with more than six months follow- up following surgery will be described. The diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and direct visualisation via transthecal navicular bursoscopy will be compared.