Repair of femoral fractures in calves via external skeletal fixator with intramedullary pin tie-in.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the success rate and associated complications of external skeletal fixator/intramedullary pin tie-in for calf femoral fracture fixation. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical retrospective. ANIMALS: Ten calves, less than 30 days old, with diaphyseal/metaphyseal femoral fractures. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed from the University of Wisconsin from 2000 to 2020. Fractures were repaired using open reduction and fixation. An intramedullary Steinman pin was placed, exiting near the greater trochanter, and utilized for fracture reduction. Bicortical transfixation pins were placed distal and proximal to the fracture site. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-filled tubing connected the transfixation pins and proximal intramedullary pin, creating a Type 1a external skeletal fixator (ESF) tie-in. Follow up was obtained via medical records and phone interviews. RESULTS: Short-term survival rate was 7/10 (70%). Postanesthetic death occurred once. Postoperative complications occurred in all remaining cases. The most common findings were transfixation pin tract lucency and lameness (6/9 cases), implant dysfunction (5/9 cases), and infection (4/9 cases). Three of five cases with long-term follow up survived; all went on to productive careers. CONCLUSION: Although patients were prone to postoperative complications, short-term survival was comparable to previous reports. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The external skeletal fixator/intramedullary (ESF/IM) pin tie-in is less expensive and offers comparable success rates to other methods, providing a lower cost option for calf femoral fracture repair.

Ceratohyoidectomy in standing sedated horses.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and complications associated with ceratohyoidectomy (CHE) in standing sedated horses unaffected (experimental horses) and standing sedated horses affected (clinical cases) with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO). STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Six experimental horses and four clinical cases. METHODS: Standing CHE was performed in six experimental horses euthanized 30 minutes (n = 3) and 7 days (n = 3) postoperatively. The four clinical cases were presented because of central facial nerve paralysis (n = 3), vestibular ataxia (n = 3), auricular hemorrhage (n = 2), quidding (n = 1), and oesophageal impaction (n = 1). Evolution was assessed by clinical examination during hospitalization and later by telephone interviews for the clinical cases. RESULTS: The procedure was successfully performed in all horses. Experimental horses did not show any short-term postoperative complications. Hemorrhage was experienced intraoperatively in one of the clinical cases and was successfully managed with placement of hemostatic forceps. Vestibular ataxia and other symptoms of THO improved within days, but facial nerve paralysis did not improve until 9 days to 6 months after surgery. Follow-up ranged from 9 to 24 months. All clinical cases returned to performance, and client satisfaction was excellent. CONCLUSION: Ceratohyoidectomy was consistently feasible in standing sedated horses. The method did not result in postoperative complications and led to resolution of clinical signs associated with THO. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Standing CHE should be considered in horses affected with THO, especially when horses present with marked vestibular deficits and ataxia, to reduce risks associated with recovery from general anesthesia.

Urogenital leiomyosarcoma in an alpaca.

A mass in the pelvic canal of a 4-year-old pregnant alpaca hembra diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma of the urogenital tract was confirmed by biopsy. Following a tube cystotomy, the alpaca was presented 33 d later, 2 d after the tube cystotomy had been dislodged. A dead cria was delivered by caesarean section.

Surgical findings and outcome for dairy cattle with jejunal hemorrhage syndrome: 31 cases (2000-2007).

OBJECTIVE: To describe signalment; surgical findings; short-, medium-, and long-term outcome; and recurrence rate for cattle undergoing celiotomy because of jejunal hemorrhage syndrome (JHS) and to analyze risk factors associated with outcome and recurrence. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 31 dairy cattle with JHS. PROCEDURES: Medical records were analyzed. Follow-up information was obtained from owners of cattle surviving until discharge. RESULTS: 18 of 31 (58%) cattle undergoing celiotomy survived to initial discharge. Fifteen (48%) and 13 (42%) were alive 6 and 12 months after discharge, respectively. All 5 deaths within 12 months after discharge were attributed to JHS recurrence. Survival time was 12 to 85 months for the 13 long-term survivors. Six of 7 that died > 12 months after celiotomy did so for reasons unrelated to JHS. Recurrence rate among short-term survivors was 7 of 18; 1 of these survived long-term. A significant proportion of affected cattle were Brown Swiss, compared with proportions for other breeds. Manual massage of the bowel to break down clots was associated with a significantly higher short-term survival rate than was enterectomy or enterotomy. Medium- and long-term survival rate was higher in cattle referred 24 to 48 hours after onset of signs. Length of obstructing blood clots was not associated with outcome. Other factors were not significantly associated with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Survival rates were higher than those in other reports. Prompt celiotomy and resolution by use of manual massage were associated with higher survival rates. In this population, JHS recurred in 7 of 18 short-term survivors.

Repair of femoral capital physeal fractures with 7.0 mm cannulated screws in cattle: 20 cases (1988-2002).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term outcome of repair of femoral capital physeal fractures with 70 mm cannulated screws in juvenile bulls that weighed >350 kg (770 lb). DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 20 bulls. PROCEDURE: Medical records of affected cattle were identified and reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained by means of a written questionnaire, 1 to 15 years after discharge, from the veterinarians who supervised the postoperative care at bull stud facilities. RESULTS: Mean age and body weight at time of repair were 19 months (range, 11 to 27 months) and 513 kg (1128.6 lb; range, 364 to 720 kg [800.8 to 1584 lb]), respectively. Surgical repair was performed with 70 mm cannulated screws. A second surgery to replace malpositioned implants was required in 1 bull. Fourteen of the 20 bulls were considered serviceable for semen collection after surgical repair, and persistent lameness was evident in 11 of the 14. Mean duration for bulls to become serviceable was 5.5 months (range, 2 to 11 months). Age, weight, duration of injury at the time of repair, and degree of reduction did not have a significant effect on whether surgical repair was successful. Six bulls remained severely lame and were euthanatized. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that surgical repair of femoral capital physeal fractures in adolescent bulls with 70 mm cannulated screws placed in lag fashion has a good prognosis for long-term function in a semen collection facility.