Surgical stabilisation of distal femoral fractures in calves using a triple pin technique: Twenty-five cases.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to develop a safe fixation technique for the effective treatment of supracondylar and distal diaphyseal femoral fractures in newborn calves. METHODS: This study included a total of 25 newborn calves diagnosed with supracondylar or distal diaphyseal femoral fractures based on anamnesis and clinical and radiographic examination findings. Operations were performed under intrathecal anaesthesia. During the operation, the fracture line was found, and fixation was achieved by placing two Steinmann and Schanz pins. RESULTS: No abnormal findings were seen in the radiographs performed 28 days after surgery, and it was determined that a hard callus had started to form. It was observed that the patients who had lightly stepped on the ground for the first 3 days after the operation were able to walk without any problems on day 28. LIMITATIONS: As this study involved neonatal calves aged 1-14 days, the operation could only be performed under spinal anaesthesia with no sedation. However, sedation is likely to be applied in addition to spinal anaesthesia in older calves. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the triple pin technique can be safely used in the treatment of supracondylar and distal diaphyseal femoral fractures.

Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Congenital Laxity of the Fibularis Musculotendinous Unit Resulting in Hyperextension of the Tarsus in 14 Calves.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the diagnosis and surgical management of congenital laxity of the fibularis tendon resulting in hyperextension of the tarsus in calves. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Fourteen calves (3 unilateral, 11 bilateral) diagnosed with congenital tarsal instability caused by laxity of the fibularis musculotendinous unit resulting in hyperextension of the tarsus. METHODS: Diagnosis was made by clinical and radiologic assessments. The tarsus was surgically prepared and an incision made on the dorsal surface of the tarsus after intrathecal anesthesia with the calf sedated. A locking-loop suture (4 loops) was applied to the fibularis tendon using polyglactin 910. The free ends of the suture were then tied to the shank of a cortical bone screw inserted in the proximal metatarsus. RESULTS: The calves were evaluated on postoperative days 15, 30, and 60 and were walking normally. CONCLUSION: Congenital tarsal instability because of laxity of the fibularis musculotendoninous unit is described and surgical treatment directed at shortening the tendon shows promising results.

CO2 Flow Dynamics of Bladder Injury During Laparoscopy and the Effect of the Content of the Abdominal Viscera During Injury--Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the well-known and easily recognizable signs of bladder injury during laparoscopy, some injuries remain unnoticed. Intra-operative diagnosis of a urinary bladder injury provides the opportunity to repair and prevent later complications involving the formation of fistula, infection, ascites and impairment of renal function. Small and unrecognized bladder injuries increase the chance of morbidity and permanent organ dysfunctions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the CO2 flow dynamics of bladder injury occurring during laparoscopy and the effect of the content of the abdominal viscera during injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved eight male New Zealand rabbits. Following urinary catheterization of the rabbits with an 8-gauge urinary catheter connected securely to a urinary drainage bag, pneumoperitoneum was created at a pressure level of 12 mm Hg. The experiment consisted of three phases. After the observational phase (Phase 1), the anterior wall of the urinary bladder was perforated with the tip of a 21 G needle (Phase 2) and methylene blue was administrated to evaluate the CO2 flow dynamics (Phase 3). RESULTS: The amount of CO2 consumption and accumulation in the urinary drainage bags differed significantly among the three phases of the experiment (p<0.05). There was no CO2 consumption or accumulation in the urinary drainage bags during Phase 1. The amount of CO2 consumption and accumulation in the urinary drainage bags during Phase 2 was significantly higher than during Phase 3. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary catheterization helps in the diagnosis of small or unnoticed urinary bladder injuries occurring during laparoscopy. CO2 flow and consumption is lower if the viscosity of the content overlying the injury site is higher.

Pyrokinin ß-neuropeptide affects necrophoretic behavior in fire ants (S. invicta), and expression of ß-NP in a mycoinsecticide increases its virulence.

Fire ants are one of the world's most damaging invasive pests, with few means for their effective control. Although ecologically friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides such as the insecticidal fungus Beauveria bassiana have been suggested for the control of fire ant populations, their use has been limited due to the low virulence of the fungus and the length of time it takes to kill its target. We present a means of increasing the virulence of the fungal agent by expressing a fire ant neuropeptide. Expression of the fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) pyrokinin ß-neuropeptide (ß-NP) by B. bassiana increased fungal virulence six-fold towards fire ants, decreased the LT(50), but did not affect virulence towards the lepidopteran, Galleria mellonella. Intriguingly, ants killed by the ß-NP expressing fungus were disrupted in the removal of dead colony members, i.e. necrophoretic behavior. Furthermore, synthetic C-terminal amidated ß-NP but not the non-amidated peptide had a dramatic effect on necrophoretic behavior. These data link chemical sensing of a specific peptide to a complex social behavior. Our results also confirm a new approach to insect control in which expression of host molecules in an insect pathogen can by exploited for target specific augmentation of virulence. The minimization of the development of potential insect resistance by our approach is discussed.

Clinical assessment of epidural analgesia induced by xylazine-lidocaine combination accompanied by xylazine sedation in calves.

: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether epidural administration of a xylazine-lidocaine combination accompanied by xylazine sedation would provide satisfactory analgesia for some surgical procedures on 10 calves admitted to the Department of Veterinary Surgery, University of Kafkas with perineal urolithiasis (n:2), rectovaginal fistula (n:1), atresia ani (n:2), omphalophlebitis (n:2), omphaloarteritis (n:1) and umbilical hernia (n:2).Following intramuscular injection of xylazine at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg for sedation, xylazine-lidocaine combination (0.2 mg/kg lidocaine + 0.02 mg/kg xylazine + 5 ml 0.9% NaCl) was administrated into the lumbosacral (L6-S1), sacrococcygeal (S5-Co1) or intercoccygeal (Co1-Co2) space. Heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were recorded prior to and during analgesia at 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes. Furthermore, depth and duration of analgesia were evaluated during surgical intervention.The study revealed that the combination of epidural xylazine-lidocaine with xylazine sedation was highly satisfactory for surgery of the lower urinary tract and the perineal region, but it was less so for surgery of the umbilical area.

Reduction and stabilization of hip luxation by the transposition of the ligamentum sacrotuberale in dogs: an in vivo study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of transposition of the sacrotuberous ligament (LST) for the treatment of coxofemoral luxation in the dog. STUDY DESIGN: In vivo experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Ten mixed-breed dogs (weighing 12 to 26 kg). METHODS: After general anesthesia, the LST was exposed and released from the sacrum with a sacral bone fragment. Coxofemoral luxation was created by capsulotomy and transection of the ligament of the head of the femur. Suture was passed through 2 small holes in the bone fragment to guide transposition of the LST through a tunnel drilled through the acetabulum and femoral head and neck. The suture material was pulled tight and an interference screw was placed into the femoral tunnel to lock the sacral bone fragment and LST securely in the tunnel. Butorphanol was administered for pain relief and dogs were allowed unrestricted activity. Coxofemoral radiographs were obtained at 15-day intervals. Two dogs were euthanatized for macroscopic and histopathologic examinations at 3 months. RESULTS: Release of the sacral bone was moderately difficult. The transposed ligament and bone fragment were of an appropriate length and were easily and securely fixed by a interference screw method. Visible severe lameness, during the first 7 to 10 days improved to mild lameness within 10 to 21 days. Gait was subjectively normal after 5 weeks. No radiographic abnormalities were observed at any time point. Grossly, the LST was intact and apparently viable and functional. On histopathology, the space in the bone tunnel was filled with new tissue and a hyaline-like layer surrounded the LST. The sacral bone fragment attached to the LST was united with the femoral bone. CONCLUSIONS: Transposition of the LST reduced and stabilized experimentally induced coxofemoral luxation in 10 dogs. Survival of the LST up to 3 months and its adaptation to transposition suggest that this surgical technique could be considered as a permanent treatment option for hip luxations. Transposition and fixation of the LST was easy, but releasing the sacral edge of the LST was difficult because of its deep location and division of the origin into 2 branches in some dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of this experimental study suggest that the technique may be satisfactorily used in dogs with coxofemoral luxation.