Aluminium Splint Incorporated Fibreglass Cast Preserves Limb Function in Bovines with Olecranon Fracture

Vandana Sangwan; Ganga P. Yadav; Ashwani Kumar

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1709727

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2020; 33(06): 434-442
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709727

Clinical Communication

Aluminium Splint Incorporated Fibreglass Cast Preserves Limb Function in Bovines with Olecranon Fracture

Vandana Sangwan

¹Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

,

Ganga P. Yadav

¹Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

,

Ashwani Kumar

¹Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective Olecranon process fractures are rare in bovines. The aim of the study was to put on record satisfactory limb usage in cattle and buffaloes suffering from olecranon fractures and treated conservatively, primarily for carpal contracture or to prevent it, using aluminum splints incorporated within a fiberglass cast along with stall confinement.

Study Design This one year study included 19 olecranon fractures in bovines (15 buffaloes and 4 cattle). Out of 19, 12 bovines (9 buffaloes and 3 cattle) were treated primarily to manage the associated carpal contracture, using external coaptation of aluminium splints incorporated within a fiberglass cast for 6 to 8 weeks. The owners of the remaining 7 bovines (6 buffaloes and 1 bullock) were only advised to keep their animal in stall-confinement, due to various reasons.

Results Slipping and falling on hard surfaces was the primary aetiology of olecranon fractures (17/19). Most of the fractures (14/19) were presented more than 10 days after a traumatic event, with a mean duration of 24.0 ± 26.6 days. On follow up, all the treated bovines showed satisfactory limb usage whereas all stall-confined buffaloes showed no improvement.

Conclusion Slipping and falling on hard surfaces is a common cause of olecranon fracture in bovines. Olecranon fractures associated carpal contracture can be successfully treated/prevented by applying full limb cast (if possible including elbow) along with aluminum splints leading to satisfactory limb usage in bovines. Further it is concluded that stall confinement alone is insufficient to prevent limb contracture (which usually develops with olecranon fracture in bovines) leading to permanent non-weight bearing disability.

Keywords

buffalo - cattle - cast - olecranon fracture - splint

Full Text

References

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Supplementary Material