Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Calf with twisted metacarpus fixed by bone surgery and casting
By Mulon, P-Y·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2010·Faculté, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Correction of a severe torsional malunion of the metacarpus in a calf by transverse osteotomy, transfixation pinning and casting.
- Species:
- cattle
Plain-English summary
A four-month-old Holstein heifer was brought in for a check-up because her left front leg was twisted outward, although she wasn't limping. X-rays showed a healing spiral fracture in her leg bones that caused the twist. The veterinarian performed surgery to realign the bones and used pins and a fiberglass cast to hold everything in place. After treatment, the heifer had a good recovery and her leg was properly aligned.
People also search for: calf leg twist treatment · Holstein heifer leg fracture · calf surgery for leg alignment
Abstract
A four-month-old Holstein heifer was presented for evaluation of an angular limb deviation. Upon initial presentation, the heifer was not clinically lame. An external rotation of 90 degrees of the fetlock was observed in the left forelimb. Radiographs identified a healing closed spiral fracture of the third and fourth metacarpal bones, with a 90 degrees external torsion. A mid-metacarpal bone transverse osteotomy was performed after insertion of transcortical pins in the distal and proximal part of the third and fourth metacarpal bones and in the distal radius. The reduction was performed in order to align both fetlock and carpal joints and a fiberglass cast was applied to complete the external fixation. A satisfactory outcome was associated with the treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19997671/