Epoxy-Pin External Skeletal Fixation for Management of Open Bone Fractures in Calves and Foals: A Review of 32 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate epoxy-pin external skeletal fixation technique for the treatment of open fractures in calves and foals. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-eight calves and four foals (weighing 45-105 kg) with fractures distal to the stifle or elbow made the subject for the retrospective study. The pins (2.0-3.0-mm Kirschner wires, crossed at 60-90°) were fixed at least at two locations in both proximal and distal bone fragments as per the case situation. The pins in the same plane were bent (∼2 cm from the skin) towards the fracture site or joint and were joined using an adhesive tape (additional pins used when required) to make a temporary scaffold of connecting bars or rings. Thoroughly mixed epoxy putty was applied along the pin scaffold (the epoxy columns were 20-25 mm diameter) and allowed to set for 45 to 60 minutes. All animals were evaluated based on various clinical and radiographic observations made at regular intervals. RESULTS: The epoxy-pin fixation was easy to apply and provided stable fixation of bone as indicated by early weight bearing, and fracture healing within 45 to 60 days (17/32 cases). The functional recovery was good to very good in 14 animals and satisfactory in nine cases by 12 months after removal of the fixator. CONCLUSIONS: The multiplanar epoxy-pin external skeletal fixation provides stable fixation of unstable open fractures distal to the stifle or elbow joint; hence, it can be used to treat a variety of fractures in calves and foals weighing up to approximately 100 kg, especially open infected fractures of lower limb, which are difficult to treat by conventional techniques.

Clinicophysiological and haemodynamic effects of fentanyl with xylazine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in isoflurane-anaesthetised water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

The present study was undertaken to investigate the sedative, analgesic and clinical effects of xylazine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine with fentanyl as pre-anaesthetics in water buffaloes and to compare the dose-sparing effect of xylazine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine on thiopental for induction and isoflurane for maintenance of anaesthesia in water buffaloes. Six male water buffaloes randomly received intravenous fentanyl (5.0 µg/kg body weight) and xylazine (0.05 mg/kg body weight), fentanyl (5.0 µg/kg body weight) and medetomidine (2.5 µg/kg body weight), fentanyl (5.0 µg/kg body weight) and dexmedetomidine (5.0 µg/kg body weight) at weekly intervals in groups I1, I2 and I3, respectively. After 15 min, the animals were restrained in right lateral recumbency and anaesthesia was induced by 5% thiopental sodium administered intravenously. The intubated animal was connected to the large animal anaesthesia machine and isoflurane in 100% oxygen (5 L/min) was insufflated for 60 min. The treatments were compared by clinicophysiological, haematobiochemical and haemodynamic parameters. Fentanyl-medetomidine and fentanyl-dexmedetomidine produced more cardiovascular depression during the pre-anaesthetic period but less depression of cardio-respiratory dynamics in the post induction and maintenance period. Quicker recovery was recorded in I2 and I3 groups. A lower dose of thiopental was required in group I3 (4.33 mg/kg ± 0.66 mg/kg) than in groups I2 (4.41 mg/kg ± 0.98 mg/kg) and I1 (4.83 mg/kg ± 0.79 mg/kg). The dose of isoflurane was less in group I3 (45.50 mL ± 5.45 mL) than in group I1 and I2 (48.66 mL ± 5.10 mL and 48.00 mL ± 6.38 mL). Better anaesthesia was recorded with fentanyl-dexmedetomidine-thiopental-isoflurane (group I3) than with fentanyl-medetomidine-thiopental-isoflurane (group I2) and fentanyl-xylazine-thiopental-isoflurane (group I1). Fentanyl-medetomidine and fentanyl-dexmedetomidine were better pre-anaesthetic agents in comparison to fentanyl-xylazine for thiopental and isoflurane anaesthesia. Fentanyl-dexmedetomidine-thiopental-isoflurane and fentanyl-medetomidine-thiopental-isoflurane produced effective surgical anaesthesia and were found to be safe, as cardio-pulmonary functions were well preserved during maintenance anaesthesia with no deleterious effect on vital organ functions in water buffaloes.

Effect of bupivacaine on epidural analgesia produced by xylazine or medetomidine in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effect of epidural bupivacaine on analgesia produced by epidural xylazine or medetomidine in buffaloes. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, blinded study. ANIMALS: Ten male buffalo calves (6-8 months of age; body weight 70-90 kg) were used on two occasions to conduct a total of 20 investigations. METHODS: Caudal extradural analgesia was produced in four buffalo calves each by the injection of either xylazine (0.05 mg kg(-1)), medetomidine (15 microg kg(-1)) or 0.5% bupivacaine (0.125 mg kg(-1)), or combinations of xylazine and bupivacaine (0.05 and 0.125 mg kg(-1)), or medetomidine and bupivacaine (15 microg kg(-1) and 0.125 mg kg(-1)) at the first intercoccygeal extradural space. Analgesia was tested using deep pinprick stimuli. RESULTS: Extradural administration of xylazine or medetomidine resulted in complete analgesia of the tail, perineum, inguinal region and the upper parts of the hind limbs, which was faster in onset and longer in duration in the medetomidine group than in the xylazine group. Addition of bupivacaine increased the intensity of the analgesia produced by xylazine, but not that produced by medetomidine. All the drugs caused mild to moderate ataxia, but signs of sedation were apparent only in animals which received xylazine or medetomidine. The extradural injections of all the drugs caused significant decrease in heart rate (p = 0.024), respiratory rate (p = 0.026) and rectal temperature (p = 0.036) from the respective baseline values, but the differences between the groups were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Medetomidine produced a longer duration of analgesia than that produced by xylazine. Bupivacaine prolonged the analgesia produced by xylazine, but the analgesia produced by the combination of medetomidine and bupivacaine was not superior to that produced by medetomidine alone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bupivacaine may be used to prolong the extradural analgesia produced by xylazine, but not that produced by medetomidine in buffaloes.