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Objectives: To report the repair of tibial diaphyseal fractures in 2 calves using a circular external skeletal fixator (CEF)., Study Design: Clinical report., Animals: Crossbred calves (n=2; age: 6 months; weight: 55 and 60 kg)., Methods: Mid-diaphyseal tibial fractures were repaired by the use of a 4-ring CEF (made of aluminum rings with 2 mm K-wires) alone in 1 calf and in combination with hemicerclage wiring in 1 calf., Results: Both calves had good weight bearing with moderate lameness postoperatively. Fracture healing occurred by day 60 in 1 calf and by day 30 in calf 2. The CEF was well maintained and tolerated by both calves through fracture healing. Joint mobility and limb usage improved gradually after CEF removal., Conclusions: CEF provided a stable fixation of tibial fractures and healing within 60 days and functional recovery within 90 days., Clinical Relevance: CEF can be safely and successfully used for the management of selected tibial fractures in calves.

The study was undertaken to find out the effects of over supplementation of dietary calcium and vitamin D3 on the mineralization of growing skeleton, taking rabbit as an animal model; further to study the effects of Nandrolone deconoate and TGF-beta1 on the mineralization of osteopenic bones. Twenty four New Zealand White rabbits of either sex, 60 day old, were randomly divided in 4 equal groups, A, B, C and D. The animals of groups B, C and D were administered with oral supplementation of calcium (2000 mg/kg of standard rabbit feed) and vit-D3 (1000 IU/kg of standard feed) for 60 days. The animals of group A were given standard ration without any supplementation. After 60 days, the Ca-vit.D3 supplementation was discontinued; and the animals of group C were administered with TGF-beta1 (10 ng, i.m.) once in every three days and animals of group D were given Nandrolone deconoate (10 mg, i.m.) once every week for 30 days, whereas in animals of group B, no treatment was given. All the animals were evaluated based on different observations like body weight, radiographic observations, circulating biochemical and hormone profile (plasma Ca, IP, AP, OC and iPTH) every 15 days up to 60 days after initiation of treatment. The results indicated that the body weight of rabbits in different groups increased gradually and steadily at different intervals till the end of observation period, however, the increase was non-significantly more in group D. The CI in group A increased gradually at different intervals; whereas in groups B, C and D, there was no appreciable increase in the CI during the period of Ca-vit.D3 supplementation, suggesting development of osteopenia. Treatment with TGF-beta1 did not increase the CI significantly, whereas Nandrolone treatment resulted in significant increase in the CI on days 45 and 60. The plasma Ca levels showed slight but gradual increase from day 0 to 60 in almost all groups. Subsequently also, there was no marked change at different intervals in groups A and B; however, significant reduction in plasma Ca was noticed in group C on 15(th) day and in group D on 60(th) day after initiation of treatment. Plasma IP levels in groups B and C showed a decreasing trend up to day 60. After discontinuation of Ca-vit.D3 supplementation, in group B, it further decreased to remain significantly lower on 15(th) day, and in groups C and D, it increased significantly on 60(th) post-treatment day. There was no significant change in the AP activity during the entire period of study in group A; whereas significant reduction in AP activity was measured on 30(th) and 60(th) days of treatment in groups B and C, and on 15(th) day of treatment in group D. Plasma iPTH values did not show any significant change at any interval during the first 60 days in all groups. On 30(th) and 60(th) days of treatment, the mean iPTH level remained significantly lesser in group B. In all groups treated with over supplementation of Ca and vit.D3, there was a non-significant increase in the plasma OC levels up to day 60; however, there was no significant difference between the groups. It can be concluded that additional supplementation of Ca and vit.D3 results in osteopenia in growing rabbits. Administration of Nandrolone helps to increase the mineral density in osteopenic bones, whereas TGF-beta1 does not seem to have positive effect on the skeletal mineralization.

Survey radiographs of all the growing dogs aged up to 6 months, which were presented to the IVRI polyclinics during the 10 year period were screened to study the determinants of bone mass, density and growth. On the basis of clinical history and radiographic evaluation of long bones, the cases were categorizes as normal or osteopenic. The relative cortical density (RCD), cortical index (CI), diameter of bone at the distal metaphysis (DDFM) and the width of the growth plate (WFGP) were determined by taking the femur as a model bone in German shepherd, Doberman and Spitz breeds of dogs at different age groups. The results showed that RCD was the least in 0-2 month old normal growing dogs in all the breeds. As the age advanced up to 6 months the RCD increased 20-25% and at 6 months, Spitz and Doberman showed significant increase (P<0.05) in the RCD. In osteopenic bones, RCD remained less (25-50%) than that of normal animals at all age groups, and at 2-6 months of age, RCD in osteopenic bones was significantly lesser than in normal animals in GSD and Spitz breeds. The CI was also the least at 0-2 months of age in normal dogs. The CI increased about 50% at 4-6 months of age in GSD and Spitz. Whereas in Dob., there was no appreciable change in the CI at different age groups, and at 2-6 months it was significantly (P<0.05) lesser than that of Spitz. In osteopenic bones, the CI was 25-75% lesser than that of normal animals at different age groups, and at 4-6 months there was significant difference (P<0.05) between the normal and osteopenic bones in GSD and Spitz. The DDFM was the least in 0-2 month old normal growing dogs, and as the age advanced, it increased 10-20% up to 6 months. However, no significant difference in the DDFM was seen between breeds and also between the normal and osteopenic bones at different age groups. In normal animals, the WFGP was the highest in the early age, subsequently it reduced 50-75% and at the 4-6 months there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in all breeds of dogs. And at the 4-6 months, there was significant (P<0.05) difference in the WFGP between breeds, it was the least in Spitz and maximum in Dob., suggesting faster growth plate closure in Spitz than in GSD and Dob. breeds. In osteopenic bones, WFGP was generally more than in normal animals, and at 4-6 months (about 3-5 times more) there was significant difference (p<0.05) between the normal and osteopenic bones in all breeds, indicating that physeal closure may be delayed in osteopenic bones. The results indicate that among different breeds Doberman breed has the least bone mass and may be more prone to osteopenia; whereas Spitz has the strongest bone.

A four-ring circular external skeletal fixation device was evaluated for transcarpal fixation of compound fractures in two calves. Case 1 was an eight-month-old female Holstein-Friesian x indigenous breed calf weighing 72 kg, which had a Salter-Harris type II fracture at the distal metaphysis of the right radius/ulna with an open contaminated wound on the medial aspect of the carpus. Case 2 was an 18-month-old crossbred Haryana heifer weighing 105 kg, which had a comminuted fracture at the proximal end of its left metacarpus with severe soft tissue trauma and an open wound on the medial aspect. In both cases, the fractures were repaired with four-ring circular fixators by fixing the proximal two rings in the distal radius/ulna and the distal two rings in the metacarpus. Postoperatively, both calves were treated with analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotic, and the pin-bone interfaces and the open wound were cleaned regularly with povidone-iodine solution. In both animals weight bearing was good to excellent in the immediate postoperative period. The fixator was well maintained and tolerated by the animals until the fractures healed after 45 to 60 days. The movement of the carpal joint was slightly affected when the fixator was removed on day 60, but a follow-up examination after one year showed that both calves had normal functional usage of the limbs.

The study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of a simple, inexpensive model of circular external fixator (CEF) for use in large ruminants. A simple model of CEF frames consisting of four full rings (13-19 cm diameter, 4 cm wide and 4 mm thick with 18-24 holes) connected by threaded rods (8 mm diameter, 10-15 cm long) and nuts was developed using mild (low carbon) steel and were nickel-plated. In the first phase of the study, three male cow calves were utilized to study the feasibility of application of the fixators in the metatarsus, tibia and radius, in reference of adaptation and tolerance by animals. In the second phase, the fixators were tested in osteotomized bones. Six bull calves of 1.5-2 years of age weighing about 200-250 kg were utilized for this purpose. After preparing the area for aseptic surgery, under xylazine (at 0.1 mg/kg, i.m.)-ketamine (i.v. till effect) general anaesthesia, the test bone (metatarsus, radius and tibia in two animals each) was approached through the medial surface and an osteotomy was created with a saw and chisel at the mid-diaphysis. The pre-constructed 4-ring CEF was mounted on the limb around the test bone in such a way that it formed a cylinder with the axis of the limb at the centre. Each ring was then fixed to the bone with a pair of beaded wires (316 SS) of 3.5 mm diameter. During the post-operative period, the animals were observed for any change in behaviour, tolerance of the fixators, the weight bearing on the test limb, the status of the fixator, and the level of reduction of the osteotomy, alignment and healing at different intervals. The fixation of CEF was easier in the metatarsus and radius than in the tibia. The inner ring diameters found adequate for metatarsus, radius and tibia were 13-15 cm, 15-17 cm and 17-19 cm, respectively. The fixators applied to different bones were well-tolerated, and the animals could lay down, stand and walk freely with the fixator without any problems. All the animals showed good weight bearing in the immediate post-operative period. Weight bearing, however, slightly reduced in the inflammatory period and showed improvement after about 4 weeks. Wire tract infection was seen in all the animals, which was more on proximal wire tracts on lateral aspect of limbs. Circular fixators were well-tolerated by all the animals, and there was no breaking/bending of connecting rods, slotted bolts or the rings at any stage of observation. Slight bowing of some wires was noticed in cases of tibia and radius (in phase II) and bending of some wires was noticed from first week in two animals one each in radius and tibia. Bone fragments were well maintained until healing occurred (appearance of bridging periosteal callus) at 60-70 days. The functional results were good in all but one case of tibia, where a mal-union was recorded. From this study, it can be concluded that CEF are well-tolerated by large ruminants and can be used to treat long bone fractures. The fixator assembly using mild steel is sufficiently strong to maintain fracture fixation and is inexpensive. The simple design of the CEF appears to be sufficient to treat simple diaphyseal fractures of the metatarsus and radius. Improvement in the technique of fixation and design-like coupling of linear and circular fixator components into hybrid constructs may help to provide greater rigidity in treating tibial and open long bone fractures.

The pattern of bone fractures secondary to nutritional bone disease in 38 dogs was analysed using a radiographic survey. The majority of fractures were either caused by a fall (28.95%) or showed no history of direct trauma (31.58%). Mongrels were more commonly affected by pathological fractures, followed by Dobermanns and German Shepherds. Significantly more (P < 0.05) fractures were found in dogs aged less than 6 months (64.71%). The incidence of such fractures was significantly higher in males than in females (M:F = 2.70:1.00). General radiological signs included a generalized decrease in cortical density, thinning of cortices and widening of metaphyses/epiphyses in most of the animals. Fractures were found significantly more frequently (P < 0.01) in the femur (81.58%) than in any other bone. Of the different types of fracture, complete oblique and incomplete fractures were most common.