L19: Upper Leg Lameness In Cattle (Shearer) Flashcards
Tx for spinal lesions?
Euthanasia indicated for most cases
Injection site lesion –> nerve damage to peroneal branch of ischiatic nerve damage
CS?
- buckling hoof as she walks
- worn hooves over the toes
Coxofemoral (hip) luxation etiology/cause
- common in dairy cattle
- usually unilateral
- often related to trauma (ie. Obturator paralysis and bilateral abduction of the limbs at calving, may occur in calves from excessive traction during delivery)
2 types of coxofemoral luxation
1) dorso-cranial displacement of the femoral head
2) ventro or caudo-ventral displacement of the femoral head
dorso-cranial displacement of the femoral head
- most common form of coxofemoral luxation
- head of femur lies along ilial shaft
- animal has hard time bearing weight on limb
- stifle and foot (digits) rotated outward
ventro or caudo-ventral displacement of the femoral head
- less frequent form of coxofemoral luxation
- poorer prognosis
- MS and neuro problems are MORE common with this form of displacement
DDx of coxofemoral luxation
- pelvic fxs
- fx of the femoral neck
- separation of the femoral epiphysis and sacroiliac luxation
Non-surgical tx of coxofemoral luxation and factors that affect success
Non-surgical approaches:
-most successful if
Surgical correction of coxofemoral luxation
- open reduction has good results
- craniodorsal luxations have better long-term outcomes than ventrocaudal cases
- re-luxation is most common secondary complication
Prognosis of coxofemoral luxation
- generally poor
- chronic cases of hip dislocation develops a false joint (pseudoarthrosis) but weight loss and severe lameness are to be expected
- slaughter should be considered for all but the most valuable animals
Spastic Syndrome (Progressive Hind Limb Paralysis)
- most common in older dairy cattle (esp. Holsteins, Guernsey’s)
- heritable disorder caused by an autosomal dominant gene
- may be a functional disorder of the myotactic reflex or postural reflex mechanisms
- neuromuscular disorder characterized by episodic involuntary muscle contractions or spasms involving the hind legs
CS of spastic syndrome
- postural disturbances described as crampiness, the stretches, periodic spasticity, standings disease, and progressive posterior paresis
- backward extension and abduction of the hind legs
- muscle trembling
- difficulty moving forward
- some animals develop severe lordosis
Tx for spastic syndrome
- none
- affected animals tend to deteriorate w/ time requiring slaughter or euthanasia
Spastic Paresis (Elso Heel)
- aka Progressive Hind Limb Paralysis
- a neuromuscular disorder characterized by uni-lateral or bilateral hyperextension of the hock and stifle joints
- can be bilateral or unilateral
- seen in YOUNG animals, both beef and dairy
- heritable
CS of spastic paresis (elso heel)
- excessive tone and contracture of the gastrocnemius muscle
- overextension of the hock and stifle joints
- stiff movement and a straight hock
- animal swings leg forward when walking
- predisposes to DJD
DDx of spastic paresis (Elso Heel)
- upward fixation of the patella
- tarsitis
- differentiate from spastic syndrome
Tx of spastic paresis (Elso Heel)
- not advised (heritable condition)
- can do tenotomy of gastrocs or complete tibial neurectomy
Stringhalt
- sudden exaggerated flexion of either one or both hocks, with feet held high before quick placement back on the ground
- horse: most easily seen at the walk or trot
- is a SPASMOTIC contraction of the lateral extensor tendons of the hind legs
4 forms of stringhalt (and causes)
1) Australian stringhalt (cause: flatweed)
2) Pseudostringhalt (cause: a painful condition in the affected leg)
3) Unilateral stringhalt (cause unknown, relieved by section of lateral extensor tendon)
4) Bilateral stringhalt (cause: abnormal thalamus)
Normal presentation of calf fetus
(Longitudinal) anterior presentation (diving out)
Longitudinal) posterior presentation (feet first
Relationship of the dorsum of the fetus in longitudinal, or the head in transverse presentation
Dorso-sacral (normal)
Dorso-pubic (upside down)
Dorso-left ileal (torsed to the left)
Dorso-right ileal (torsed to the right)
*position of dorsum of the fetus comes first, position of pelvis comes second
Posture
The relationship of the fetal extremities (head, neck, or limbs) to its own body
-may be flexed, extended, or head turned back to one side
The anterior branch of the ischiadic nerve
Peroneal nerve
Caudal branch of the ischiadic nerve
Tibial nerve
Dystocia-related nerve injury
- ischiadic (sciatic) nerve paralysis
- peroneal nerve paralysis
- tibial nerve paralysis
- obturator nerve
Peroneal nerve paralysis
- paralysis of the muscles flexing the hock and extending the digits
- peroneal nerve passes superficially near the lateral femoral condyle and the head of the fibula
- CS: digit is knuckled over onto the dorsum of the pastern and fetlock joint, hock appears overextended
- Tx: just time; maintain affected animals in areas with good footing
- Prognosis: cows with mild damage recover spontaneously
Tibial nerve paralysis
- paralysis of the extensors of the hock and flexors of the digits
- assoc. with dystocia and injections in the caudo-lateral stifle area
- tx: time, maintain in area with good footing
- Prognosis: most cases recover spontaneously
Calving Paralysis Syndrome
-combo of lesions involving the lumbar root of L6 which contributes to both the ischiadic and obturator nerves
What does obturator nerve innervate?
- adductor muscle group (adductor, pectineus, and gracilis muscles)
- vulnerable to intrapelvic compression during calving
CS of obturator nerve damage
Base-wide stance when ambulatory
-can be permanent
Downer Cow Syndrome causes
- trauma
- metabolic disease
- neurological lesions
- neoplasia (lymphoma)
- septicemias and toxemias
Secondary complications of Downer cow syndrome
Pressure ischemia of muscle tissue - “compartment syndrome”
How do milk fever cows usually present?
- alert but can’t get up
- cool extremities, fever, evidence of off milk
- tx: calcium
Tx of downer cow syndrome
- avoid secondary m. And nerve damage in downers: tx underlying causes
- elevate cows with slings or hoists
- float cows
- provide additional supportive care PRN
Rupture of the gastrocnemius or achilles tendon
- prevents weight bearing on the affected limb
- appears similar to tibial n. Paralysis
- rare occurence
- may occur in animals struggling to rise from recumbent position
- no tx
- NO knuckling
Chars. Of cruciate ligament rupture
- usually traumatic (sudden twisting or overextension)
- tibial plateau moves forward relative to femoral condyles during weight bearing
- results in grade 4 lameness
CS of cruciate ligament rupture
- outward rotation of leg or toe touching when standing
- non painful effusion
- visible instability during movement and/or audible “clunk”
- predisposes to secondary DJD
Dx of cruciate ligament rupture
- positive drawer movement
- joint effusion
- rads
What are the cruciate ligaments?
1) anterior cruciate
- rupture results in femorotibial instability and subluxation
- usually caused by trauma
2) posterior cruciate
Radial nerve paralysis origins
- origins of radial nerve: C6, C7, and T1
- vulnerable to injury proximally at the shoulder and distally at the lvl of the musculo-spiral groove of the humerus
- can be injured in a tilt table
Typical posture of an animal with a spinal lesion
- right rear leg shows evidence of ischiadic/tibial nerve damage
- animal is very painful (doesn’t stand for long periods in most cases)
- very hunched over
