Achados radiográficos e ultrassonográficos em equinos com doença do navicular

The distal sesamoid bone, also known as navicular bone, is located inside the hoof, palmar (thoracic limbs) or plantar (pelvic limbs) to distal interphalangeal joint. Its extremities are fixed by collateral medial and lateral sesamoidean ligament and distal impar sesamoidean ligament. Navicular disease diagnostic is made through a thorough clinical exam, nerve blocks and imaging exams. Even though imaging exams are not conclusive, they are essential to evaluate the extension of soft tissue lesions. Radiographic projections used to evaluate navicular bone are lateromedial (LM); dorsoproximal-palmaro/plantarodistal oblíqua (D30Pr-PaDiO); dorsoproximal-palmaro/plantarodistal oblíqua (D60Pr-PaDiO) e a palmaro/plantaroproximal-palmaro/plantarodistal oblíqua (PaPr-PaDiO). This exam allows to identify number and shape alterations of synovial invaginations on the distal (foramem nutricio) in the distal margin of distal sesamoid, osteophytes, enthesophytes and periarticular lesions. There are four ultrasonographic accesses described in literature to evaluate podotroclear apparatus, they are: palmar or plantar distal do the pastern, through the heel bulbs, through coronary band and transcuneal. These images allow a beeter the evaluation of soft tissue next to the distal sesamoid, because it is more sensitive than radiographic exam to evaluate acute lesions in soft tissues and perioesteum