Radiographic Finding of Radial Hemimelia in a 6-Day- Old West African Dwarf Goat with a Fractured Ulna

Abstract

This report describes a case of radial hemimelia in a 6 day-old West African Dwarf female kid presented at the Large Animal Clinic of Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria, because of inability to bear weight as a result of suspected bone fracture of the right forelimb which was noticed few minutes after kidding. Physical examination revealed crepitation along the ulna shaft of the right forelimb. Radiographic examination revealed complete absence of the radius, malformed carpal bones, reduced congruity at the humeroulna joint, and curved ulnar bone with a complete closed transverse fracture at the distal 1/3rd. Documentation of such defects in ruminants would give valuable information on their incidence, animal species, breed susceptibility and possibly environmental influence on their pathogenesis.

Osteogenesis imperfecta confirmed in neonatal Valais blacknose lambs

“…The pathogenesis of hemimelia is not well understood and may be heritable in some cases 5 . Teratogenic injury to the neural crest is another possible explanation.…”