CARPECTOMY AND PARTIAL ARTHRODESIS AS A SURGICAL INTERVENTION FOR UNILATERAL CONGENITAL FLEXION OF CARPAL JOINT IN A CROSSBRED HEIFER CALF: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

A twenty-day old calf was presented to the Farm Animal Teaching Hospital with the complaint of inability to extend the left forelimb since the birth. The leg was congenitally flexed caudomedially at the carpal joint. Clinical examination and X-ray images revealed the malformation of the carpal bones and the elective surgery was made under the general anesthesia with Xylazine (0.05mg/kg, IM) and Ketamine (2mg/kg, IV). At the surgery, instead of six carpal bones only two (medial and lateral) were found. A wedge shaped (~15º) slice of partial arthrodesis was performed at cranial parts of distal epiphysis of the radius and ulna bones. Similar arthrodesis was performed in proximal epiphysis of the metacarpus bone as well. The leg was extended and after infiltration of long-acting Penicillin; joint capsule, subcutaneous incisions and skin were sutured. Post-operative care was followed with wound dressing and parental injections of longacting Penicillin for 5 weeks. Until one month post operatively, the joint was immobilized with specially prepared 4-armed (‘U’ shape) metal splints. Six days after the surgery, the calf started to bear the weight using the operated limb. The calf was discharged with usual walking stance, and it was further confirmed 6 months later.

Keywords

• carpal joint
• calf
• congenital flexion
• carpectomy
• arthrodesis