Navicular syndrome (podotrochlear disease) is a chronic forelimb pain condition in horses. Conservative management has improved significantly and allows many horses to remain comfortable and functional without surgical nerve cutting.
Navicular syndrome is a significant source of chronic pain in performance horses, and its management has historically prioritized return to athletic function over long-term comfort. Neurectomy, while effective for pain relief, removes the horse's ability to detect injury or penetrating wounds in the denervated area, creating ongoing risks. From a welfare perspective, conservative management that maintains sensation and reduces pain through mechanical means, targeted injections, and bisphosphonate therapy is preferable. The welfare cost of pain must always be balanced against treatment risks. Horses with severe, refractory navicular disease may ultimately be best served by retirement to pasture with appropriate hoof care and pain management rather than forced continuation in athletic work, particularly if surgery is required to enable performance.