Morphometry, planimetry and stereology in the distal sesamoid bone in equine foot with and without Navicular Syndrome

Navicular Syndrome (NS) is a chronic, degenerative and progressive bilateral claudication pathology, compromising the distal sesamoid bone (DSB), the podotrochlear bursa, ligaments and adjacent surfaces of the tendon of the deep digital flexor muscle of equine foot. The hypothesis that morphological characteristics of HSB in hand of horses vary in those with SN was evaluated in this study. A study was carried out to determine the morphological changes in the DSB in 22 left foot of horses with NS. We realized morphometrical, planimetrical and stereological studies in two groups of horses feet: Not Affected (n=11) and Navicular Syndrome (n=11). The following variables were quantified: weight, volume, linear measurements, area and stereological parameters: densities of number (N_A), volume (V_V) and surface (S_V). Results indicate that although there is a pathological and inflammatory process in the region of DSB which induces mesoscopic and microscopic changes attributable to SN, their gross morphological features were not modified.