No abstract

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 fixati...

The effect of ultrasound therapy on tendon injury healing was studied on 12 locally available non-descript adult goats of either sex divided equally in two groups (I and II) consisting of six animals each. The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) was transected and immediately repaired with nylon (2/0) using a locking loop suture pattern under atropine-triflupromazine-lignocaine epidural analgesia and strict aseptic condition. A full limb plaster of Paris cast was applied to immobilize the operated limb for 3 days. Postoperative care was similar in both the groups. In group I, the operated limb was allowed to heal without ultrasound therapy. In group II, pulsed ultrasound therapy was started 3 days after repair of tendinous injury at an intensity of 1 W/cm(2) for 10 min daily for 10 consecutive days. The animals of both groups were evaluated clinically and haemato-biochemically on days 1, 3, 7, 15, 20 and 30 postoperatively. Air tendonograms and ultrasonography were performed on days 0, 10, 20 and 30 post-tenorrhaphy. Histopathological examination of tendon biopsy samples was performed on day 30 post-tenorrhaphy. Resolution of inflammatory swelling, pain, weight bearing and tendon gliding movement was earlier in the test group than control. Rectal temperature, total leucocyte count and differential leucocyte count did not vary significantly at various stages of observation in both the groups. Serum glucose, cortisone and serum alkaline phosphatase levels increased significantly after tendon injury repair in all the animals and decreased slowly at all subsequent intervals in control group, whereas, it was near normal in the treatment group on day 30 post-tenorrhaphy. Air tendenograms and ultrasonography examinations in the test group revealed that there was a marked regression of peritendinous adhesion between the tendon and skin on day 30 post-tendon injury repaired and the tendon at the reconstructive site attained near normal thickness and density. Adhesions were present in the reconstructed site of SDFT in all animals of the control group. Histopathologically, the granulation tissue was comparatively bettered organized at the healing site in the ultrasound-treated animals.

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.

Thee different combinations of ketamine hydrochloride were used to induce general anaesthesia for surgical operations (typhlectomy) in 30 adult, single-comb White Leghorn cockerels. They were randomly divided into three groups, each comprising 10 birds. Birds in Group I received xylazine-ketamine combinations at the dose rate of 2 mg xylazine and 10 mg ketamine per kg i.v., whereas birds of Group II received diazepam (2.5 mg / kg i.v.) and 5 min later ketamine (75 mg / kg i.m.). In the Group III, midazolam (2 mg / kg i.m.) and 5 min later ketamine (50 mg / kg i.v.) was administered. The onset of sedation / anaesthesia was shortest (1.60 + 0.27 min) in Group I, followed by Group II (8.40 + 0.83 min) and Group III (17.10 + 1.71 min). Recovery period was shortest in the Group I (65-75 min) followed by Group II (80-85 min) and Group III (92-105 min). Sedation, muscle relaxation and surgical anaesthesia was optimal and excellent in Group I compared with the other two groups. Torticollis, salivation and dyspnoea were observed in Group III. Short-term limb contractions were present in all birds in Groups II and III, up to 20 min of observation. Recovery from anaesthesia was smooth in all three groups. A Surgical procedure (typhlectomy) was performed on all birds. Hypothermia was observed in Group II, whereas heart and respiratory depression was recorded in Group I. Blood sugar level did not vary significantly in any anaesthetic regime. The reduction of haemoglobin was maximum in Group II compared with Groups I and III. Hypoxaemia and hypercapnaea were elevated in all birds in Groups II and III. Blood electrolytes did not vary significantly from the baseline values among the three groups of birds during the period of observation (120 min). The xylazine-ketamine combination was found to be the best anaesthesia for surgical intervention in chickens.