Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery helped a newborn calf with fluid buildup in the brain
By Akter, Antora et al.·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2025·Department of Surgery and Obstetrics·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical Approach and Successful Intervention of Congenital Hydrocephalus in Neonatal Calf.
- Species:
- cattle
Plain-English summary
A day-old crossbred female calf was brought in with a dome-shaped head, difficulty suckling, and an uncoordinated gait. The vet diagnosed her with congenital hydrocephalus, a condition where excess fluid builds up in the brain. They performed surgery to remove the fluid and correct the cranial deformity, followed by treatment with antibiotics, corticosteroids, and fluids. Within 72 hours, the calf showed signs of improvement, and by 12 days after the surgery, she was growing normally and had no further neurological issues.
People also search for: calf congenital hydrocephalus treatment · calf with dome-shaped head · neonatal calf surgery recovery
Abstract
Congenital hydrocephalus is a potentially fatal neurological anomaly in calves characterized by excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid that leads to cranial deformities and neurological deficits. This report describes the successful surgical management of a day-old crossbred female calf presenting with a dome-shaped cranial vault, poor suckling reflex and uncoordinated gait. Diagnosis of congenital hydrocephalus was confirmed by clinical examination. Surgical intervention involved gradual aspiration of cerebrospinal fluid using a syringe, followed by excision of the enlarged area at the level of a horizontal mattress suture placed at the base of the swelling. Post-operative care included antibiotics, corticosteroids and fluid therapy. Progressive neurological improvement was noted within 72 h, and by 12 days post-surgery, the calf exhibited normal growth, behaviour and no signs of neurological dysfunction. This report represents a successful outcome following surgical management of congenital hydrocephalus in a neonatal calf.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41085645/