RESUMO
A 4-week-old, female Simmental calf was referred due to severe, non-weightbearing lameness (grade 5/5) of sudden onset in the right hind limb that had been present for 3â days. Clinical examination revealed a painful swelling in the right coxofemoral joint region, but characteristic signs of a fracture, such as crepitus, deviation in the bone axis and increased mobility of the implicated bone, were not observed. Transcutaneous ultrasonographic examination using a 7.5 MHz linear probe revealed a characteristic interruption of the physiologic bone contour, with a slight step formation and increased mobility in the area of the femoral capital physis (growth plate). Radiography showed a Salter-Harris typeâ¯2 fracture of the femoral capital physis. Due to a fracture displacement of merely 2â mm, conservative treatment was instigated by means of a modified Ehmer-sling which was applied for 28â days. The sling was changed twice within this period. The calf coped well with the sling and was fully ambulatory. This conservative treatment resulted in complete healing of the femoral capital physeal fracture, and the higher costs for surgical treatment and its potentially associated risks were avoided. Ten weeks following treatment initiation the calf was weight-bearing on the affected limb and showed no signs of lameness.