Cattle Digit Amputation Flashcards
What are the indications for Digit amputation?
1) severe penetration of the sole
2) septic arthritis of the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints
3) septic tenosynovitis, flexor tendon necrosis
4) Pedal osteitis
5) phalangeal luxation, distal phalanx fracture
6) severe DJD of the distal interphalangeal joint
What are some of the reasons joints become septic enough for amputation/ past the point of surgical repair?
1) long time till they notice there is a problem
2) owner tries to manage it themselves
What should be considered/ thought of when an food animal has been been administered Penecillin?
1) with draw time
2) storage
3) site of administration
4) dosage
What is the number one region/ place for lamness in a horse?
the hoof
What is the number one region/ place for lamness in Cattle
the foot
A cow is lame in its front right limb, what is the first thing you do?
Pick up the hoof, trim and then take radiographs
What are some things to look for in a DIP Joint (coffin joint) with Septic Arthritis?
1) periosteal reaction
2) asymetric swelling of soft tissues
3) bony lysis around joint
always compared to normal joint in unaffected digit
How do you treat Septic arthritis of the DIP Joint
Coffin joint septic arthritis can be treated with Digital amputation or surgical arthrodesis/ facilliated ankylosis
What are the clinical signs of Septic arthritis of the DIP joint (coffin) in Cattle
Lamness
1) swelling
2) draining tract
3) laceration
4) puncture
What structures are usually involved in Septic DIP joint (coffin) ?
- P3, P2, Navicular bone
- Navicular bursa
- DDFT / sheath
- Pastern joint (PIP)
What tools / techniques can be used to establish/ diagnose the extent of a Septic DIP joing (coffin) ?
- PE
- Probing of draining tract
- Fistulogram–> if there is a lot of fibrous material this can be more beneficial than probing
- Radiographs
Why would you consider digit amputation for an Articular fracture of P3?
- very painful
- weight bearing structure
- if it heals there will be chronic pain secondary to severe DJD
How do you treat Chronic septic Arthritis of the DIJ (coffin) in cattle?
1) facilitated ankylosis
- arthrotomy and curettage
- resection of DDFT and navicular bone
2) amputation
3) culling
What is the difference between ankylosis and arthrodesis?
ankylosis fusing on its own naturally
arthrodesis- assisted fusing by us
How long can you leave a tourniquet (for RLP) on in Cattle?
2 Hours
- keeps the local around the digit
- padding under the tournequiet can help preent neuropr…..
what type of tournequet can be placed on a distal limb of a cow?
esmarch tourniquet
What should you do before you make your first incision?
Check your block is effective
What are some of the advantages of digit amputation?
1) rapid surgery
2) inexpensie
3) good short term results
4) all affected tissues are removed
5) rapid return to production
What can digit amputation be used to treat?
Any injury or septic process to Distal P1!!!
What are the two methods of Digit Amputation?
-which is prefered?
Closed and Open
-closed (clean, but for non infectious processes)
What is another term to describe a closed Digit amputation technique?
closed also known as skin flap technique
T/ F you want to make sure you put your bandage on before removing the tourniquet in a Skin Flap Digital amputation?
TRUE
What is the difference between Closed and Open digit amputation technique
Closed-skin flap, requires suture up
Open- No skin flap, leave open to drain, concerned about residual infection.
What are some Disadvantages to Digit amputation?
1) not pretty for show animals (poor cosmetic results)
2) expected production life decreased
3) poor response in heavier animals
What is the average survival post amputation for Cattle?
2 years
-but some cattle never recover due to rapid breakdown of supporting structures
Is there a difference between which digits you amputate and the cattles prognosis?
-Why?
YES
-Due to the way the Cattle distributes weight
Which has a better prognosis when amputating, the Lateral or Medial Thoracic Limb digit?
- better prognosis for Lateral thoracic limb digit amputation
- poor prognosis for medial thoracic limb digit amputation
Which has a better prognosis when amputating digits (lateral or medial) in the pelvic limb?
- better prognosis for medial pelvic limb digit amputation
- poor prognosis for lateral pelvic digit amputation
Which digit has the absolute worst prognosis when amputated?
Pelvic Lateral digital amputation
-because cattle carry the majority of their weight in their hind limbs unlike horses who carry it in their fore limbs
List some supporting structures that are affected when there is injury to the distal limb indicating amputation
- disruption of the soft tissues
- Cruciate ligaments
- interdigital ligaments
- flexor tendons
What is the most likely senario for an overweight Cattle that required a digit amputation?
- less successful outcomes
- More likely to be culled
A 340 Kg Cow requires a digit amputation what is its prognosis
70% good
A 680 KG Cow requires a digita amputation what is the prognosis?
Poor
27% good
Ideally in Cattle with a Septic joint could be treated medically it would, why does this not happy often?
normally see them to late 1-6months after injury
-reason amputation is more common in cattle
How would you medically treat acute septic arthritis of DIJ (coffin) in Cattle
- RARE (normally dont see them till its too late)
- IA lavage!!!! mainstay of septic arthritis
- –>LRS 0.9% NaCl
- –> min 3 consecutive days
- IA antibiotics
- Systemic antibiotics
just like horses!
What are some common etiologies of SEptic Arthritis of the Coffin (DIJ) joint in CATTLE
- pododermatitis
- white line disease
- Peri-articular wound
- interdigital would
- interdigitatl necrobacillosis
why do you put a block on the un-amputated digit?
- Elevated the amputated digit off the ground
- redistributes the weight to the unaffected digit (for healing)
What are the advantages of Facilitated ankylosis?
Good long term results
What are the disadvantages of Facilitated ankylosis?
- Expensive
- lonoger surgery
- techincally demanding
- slow return to production
Describe the process of Facilitated ankylosis
- treat infection
- remove articular cartilage
- imobilize
Why do you want to remove the articular cartilage for facilitated ankylosis?
- to fuse the bones
- cartilage prevents the fusion
- therefore the subchondral bone must be exposed
What do you use to create arthrotomy into the DIJ during facilitated ankylosis in Cattle
Trephine
How many liters are used to lavage a joint?
5-10L
- large amounts
- high pressure
Which digit do you put the block on?
unaffected /sound digit
How long does a block stay on
weeks
What are the advantages of Facilitated ankylosis compared to amputation
- longer productive life
- better ambulation
- improved longevity
What are teh disadvantages of ankylosis compared to amputation?
- expensive
- slow to return to production
- prolonged treatment/ recovery
Why would you choose surgical ankylosis
- valuable animals
- depending on the weight
- which digit is affected
- want a longer production potential
When would you recommend surgical ankylosis?
- if it will be successful
- to have normal productive life
- for heavy animals
- for hind lateral digit sepsis
- for front medial digit sepsis
