by Kelly Case

This research grew out of personal skepticism about any benefits that could result from treating laminitis and founder with the Nolan Hoof Plate - a mechanical device attached to the horny wall of the horse’s hoof. Anyone familiar with founder knows that this disease causes the coffin bone to break loose from the lamina that surrounds the corium, which allows the coffi n bone to rotate, or shear away from the interior of the hoof capsule. Since the coffin bone sits at an angle of approximately 52 degrees, the rotation of the coffi n bone and the damage to the lamina are greater and much more evident at the toe. When the hoof is loaded, this rotating or shearing effect damages the lamina, which allows the horny wall of the hoof to spread and tear away at the lamina - never giving the coffin bone a chance to reattach. When looking at the toe of a foundered or laminitic horse, we can actually see the lamina being spread apart, which not only affects the bony structure of the hoof itself, but also the soft tissues of the hoof. This results in restricting the fl ow of blood and nutrients to the damaged area, which are needed for a sound and healthy hoof. Past studies performed by Dr. Robert Eustace of the Laminitis and Founder Clinic in the U.K. show that the lamina are damaged by restriction of blood flow to the lamina. This restriction of blood flow causes swelling and separation of the lamina, creating pockets where old blood or fluids can pool, thereby creating hydraulic pressure that exacerbates the separation and allows the coffin bone to tear away and rotate. Most treatments for founder are based on support of the coffin bone. This is achieved by adding mechanical support to the bottom of the hoof by using a heart bar-type shoe. The treatment theory is that stabilizing the coffin bone will give the lamina time to reattach and stop any further movement of the coffin bone. The heart bar shoe, when applied correctly, has been a most effective way to treat founder and laminitis, and is widely accepted among farriers throughout the world.

The images below show a horse that was diagnosed as foundered by a veterinarian, with rotation to the coffin bone discovered through the use of X–rays. Since X-rays show only bone or hard surfaces, we decided to use Infrared Thermal Imaging to see what was happening to the soft tissue and blood flow on a foundered horse. The protocols for thermal imaging that were followed were produced and written by ShurShod Horseshoeing School in Conjunction with Inside Out Diagnostic Imaging, and all thermal images were taken and read by a certified Infrared Diagnostic Imaging technician.

The first image shows an uneven heat pattern throughout the entire hoof; the white area is a “hot spot” where blood is pooling. The red areas denote some amount of blood flow, with intermittent hot spots. Notice the yellow area and how it transforms from yellow to green and then down to blue. The yellow area shows lamina that are being starved of blood and nutrients, while the blue area shows dead lamina at the bottom of the hoof wall. The green area denotes severe separation of dying lamina. This image was taken before the application of the Nolan Hoof Plate

The second image shows the same hoof - one hour after the application of the Nolan Hoof Plate. Notice several different changes to the blood flow into the hoof. The first change is the overall improved circulation that has developed in the hoof; notice that the coronary band is a very even white color, which shows that blood flow across the hoof has become even. Also notice the red color creeping out around the bottom and through the holes in the hoof plate, which shows the overall even heating or even blood flow through the hoof. Upon closer inspection of this image, you will also note that the hoof plate itself has some blue and yellow spots on it. This is radiant heat seeping through the hoof plate itself - once again showing dramatically improved blood flow to the entire hoof

Seeing such immediate and dramatic results, we determined to find out what the Nolan Hoof Plate is actually doing. We dissected a cadaver hoof, and viewed the lamina both from the hoof wall and the corium. Microscopic views of the lamina reproduced below show that the lamina is somewhat trilobal in appearance, and that the lamina on the corium and on the hoof mate together in a modified dovetail joint (see accompany­ing sketch) with the lamina from the hoof wall side actually resting underneath the mating lamina on the corium side.

When separation of the lamina oc­curs it disrupts ordinary blood flow to the hoof. This separation creates pockets and tears which, in turn, fill with blood and blood serum. The proper application of the Nolan Hoof Plate has a two-pronged effect on the torn lamina: (1) it forces the dovetail-like joints of the lamina back together, helping to eliminate the pockets or “dead areas” that would otherwise fill up with fluid, and (2) it pushes the horny wall away from the corium but, as seen in the thermal images, it enables lamina that are not too severely damaged to start supplying blood and nutrients to the hoof.

The forcing together of the lamina also aids in restoring blood flow and quicker reattachment of the lamina to the coffin bone, thereby providing relief and some stabilization of the coffin bone.

In conclusion, it appears that the Nolan Hoof Plate acts on the hoof somewhat like application of stitches to a wound by pulling the damaged tissue back together, helping to prevent more damage, and enabling quicker healing of the affected area

For Photos, see page 8 in 2008 Winter Bulletin

www.NolanHoofHealth.com

© 2008 by Kelly Case, Shur-Shod Horseshoeing School

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, photographing, recording, or otherwise, for private or public use, under penalty of law, without the prior written permission of the author for the specific instance of use.

 

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