Radiographic Evaluation of Fractured and Non-Fractured Metacarpal Bones in Holstein Calves Subjected to Pulling during Dystocia

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to investigate the transverse cortical cross-sections of the metacarpal bones of newborn calves subjected to pulling during dystocia.

Materials and Methods In total, radiographs of 63 metacarpal bones (35 fractured and 28 non-fractured) of 50 Holstein calves were evaluated in this study. According to the declaration of the owners, all calves were pulled by their metacarpal bones during parturition.

The periosteal and endosteal diameters, medial and lateral cortical thicknesses and dorsal and palmar cortical thicknesses were measured. Furthermore, the total, cortical and medullary areas of each section, moments of inertia on the X and Y axes, major and minor principal moments of inertia, angle of rotation of the axis and polar moment of inertia were calculated. The data were analysed by sex and body weight.

Results Body weight did not affect the bone status. However, females had a 6.5 times higher risk of bone fracture as compared with the males (p = 0.001). The lateral cortical thickness of the fractured bones in the female animals was thinner than that of the male animals (p = 0.001).

Conclusion These results can be used to improve dystocia manipulations, encourage the development of new tools for dystocia and the treatment of metacarpal fractures in calves.

Keywords

calf - cross-sectional geometry - dystocia - metacarpal fractures - radiographs

Ethical Approval

According to clause (b) of Article 2 of the Regulation on the Working Procedures and Principles of the Animal Experiments Ethics Committee published in the Official Gazette of Turkey dated 15.02.2014 and numbered 28914, it has been stated that there is no need for ethical committee approval in 'Non-experimental Clinical Veterinary Medicine practices'. Since the experiment in the present study was classified as 'routine clinical applications for diagnosis and treatment', there was no need to report to the ethics committee.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed equally to the conception and writing of the manuscript. All authors critically revised the manuscript and approved the final version.

Publication History

Received: 12 April 2022

Accepted: 01 November 2022

Article published online:
18 January 2023

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