Upper limb lameness Flashcards
How can you tell upper limb lameness from distal limb lameness?
Swinging = upper limb
Weight bearing = foot
Cellulitis can be caused by ascending infections from foot lesions or penetrations. How is it treated? What is the prognosis?
Aggressive antibiotics and anti-inflammatories
Guarded
Do contracted tendon deformities tend to affect all limbs?
No - usually both forelimbs
Bilateral
How can contracted tendon deformities be managed conservatively? What are the disadvantages with this treatment?
Manually stretching of tendons with banding
Metal splint on palmar aspect
(Care - risk of pressure sores and require changing every 2 weeks due to rapid growth)
What is the surgical treatment for contracted tendon deformities?
Tendonectomy
With casting for 2-4 weeks post-op
Cruciate rupture is common in breeding bulls during dismount. How is this treated? When is the prognosis better?
Autograft
From fascia of medial gluteobiceps
Better Px if younger and lighter
Flexor tendon injuries may be caused by trauma. How are they treated?
Debride wound
Tenorrhaphy - surgical suture of divided tendon
With casting
Why should sedation be avoided in fracture cases? What analgesia and sedation should be given for a fracture if required?
Causes weakness - cannot weight bear on leg
NSAIDs and butorphanol
When transporting a potential fracture case, which way should the animal be facing?
Two good legs at the front
Gastrocnemius rupture can be due to sudden weight, rotational force, trauma, weakening and more. How can this be differentiated from tibial nerve paralysis?
Skin sensation
Gastrocnemius ruptures still have skin sensation
How can gastrocnemius rupture be treated? What is the prognosis?
Box rest
Tendon support
Possibly surgery?
Poor prognosis
Hip dislocation can be due to going down in a crush with a raised hindlimb, but is also more common during what stages of a cows life?
Oestrus
Parturition (slack ligaments)
Hip dislocation can be craniodorsal or caudoventral. Which is worse? What are the symptoms for each?
Craniodorsal - ambulatory
Caudoventral - recumbent, may have obturator nerve damage
What is the treatment for hip dislocation in cows?
Closed reduction (euthanasia if caudoventral?)
Hip dysplasia is most common in what age and sex of cattle?
Young males
How may a bull present with hip dysplasia? Is it bilateral or unilateral?
Decreased libido
Bilateral, but one leg worse
Why aren’t radiographs useful in diagnosing hip dysplasia in cattle?
Due to shallow acetabulum
What are hygromas and how are they treated?
Fluid filled sacs over bony prominence due to pressure/trauma
Clip prep, incise and drain, pressure bandage
What causes osteochondrosis in cattle?
Necrosis of cartilage blood vessels
Leading to altered cartilage growth
(Due to minor/repeated insults?)
Which joints are often affected by osteochondrosis?
Atlanto-occipital
Femoro-patellar (bilateral)
A young animal has decreased libido and some lameness. You suspect osteochondrosis. How do you diagnose or investigate?
Arthroscopy Joint tap (mild inflammation and protein increase)
Osteodystrophy includes two conditions affecting different age cows. What are they?
Rickett’s - young animals
Osteomalacia/osteoporosis - adults
What causes osteodystrophy (Ricketts, osteoporosis)?
Nutritional deficiency (Ca, P, Cu)
Rapid growth
Housing/genetic factors
Osteodystrophy can be diagnosed by analysing joint fluid, blood, post-mortem exam or bone ash concentration. What changes would you expect to see on blood biochemistry?
Hypocalcaemia
Increased ALP - due to bone remodelling
