Treatment of unilateral congenital flexural and torsional limb deformities with circular external skeletal fixation system in two calves

C. Yardimci; A. Ozak; H. O. Nisbet

doi:10.3415/VCOT-10-03-0047

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2011; 24(02): 151-156
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-10-03-0047

Case Report

Schattauer GmbH

Treatment of unilateral congenital flexural and torsional limb deformities with circular external skeletal fixation system in two calves

Authors

C. Yardimci

¹Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey
A. Ozak

¹Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey
H. O. Nisbet

¹Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey

Abstract

Summary

Case description: Two calves with unilateral congenital flexural and torsional limb deformities below the hock joint of the left hindlimb were presented to Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Ondokuz Mayis University. According to clinical, goniometric and radiological examinations, flexural (130°-40°) and torsional (90°-180°) deformities were diagnosed. Except for the limb deformities, both animals were otherwise completely healthy.

Treatment and outcome: In case 1, hock joint arthrodesis was performed using a circular external skeletal fixation system with four full rings 160 mm in diameter. In case 2, the deformity was corrected by fixation after transverse osteotomy at the level of the proximal metatarsals with four full rings 150 mm in diameter, and arthrodesis of the fetlock joint with three full rings 100 mm in diameter. According to clinical examinations and follow-up telephone interviews performed 15 and 24 weeks after discharge, functional use with slight lameness in case 1 and full functional use in case 2 had been achieved.

Clinical relevance: None of the previously reported cases of flexural deformity had radiographic signs similar to those of the calves in our report, and the deformities were not as severe as those reported here. To our knowledge, this is the first report of treatment of unilateral congenital flexural and torsional deformities in calves with a circular external skeletal fixation system.

Keywords

Calf - congenital anomaly - circular external skeletal fixation - flexural torsional deformity

Full Text

References

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