A Study of the Effects of Desmotomy of the Navicular Bone Suspensory Ligament on Radio-Morphometric Features of the Navicular Bone in Normal Donkeys (Equus asinus)

This study was performed to investigate the effects of desmotomy of the Navicular Bone Suspensory Ligament (NBSL) on navicular bone radio-morphometric features and on navicular bone remodeling in normal donkeys (Equus asinus). Twenty normal healthy, adult, local breed donkeys, between 5 and 7 years of age and weighing 120-150 kg were used. Three radiographic views (lateromedial, dorsopalmar and palmaroproximal-palmarodistal oblique) of navicular bones of the forelimbs were taken of experimental (n = 15) and control animals (n = 5) before and after desmotomy and every 4 weeks thereafter for 12 months. Radiographic images were used for determining the navicular bone radiometric measurements. The same measurements were then obtained on fresh specimens at the end of the study. The following radio and morphometric measurements were obtained: articular surface width (D1), flexor surface width (D2), length of the navicular bone (D3) and flexor surface thickness (D4). Results of this study showed that there are no detrimental effects, or abnormal remodeling of the navicular bone due to NBSL desmotomy in donkeys.