[Treatment, clinical course and outcome of tibial neuropathy in German Holstein cows]. / Behandlung, Verlauf und Therapieerfolg der Neuropathie des Nervus tibialis bei Deutsch-Holstein Kühen.

OBJECTIVE: As a follow-up to a previous study on the incidence, history and clinical findings of tibial neuropathy (TN), the present work aimed at describing the treatment and prognosis of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 88 German Holstein dairy cows with unilateral (UTN, n = 71) or bilateral (BTN, n = 17) TN, 68 (56 UTN, 12 BTN) with a complete data set were analyzed. They were retrospectively assigned to one of four groups: no treatment - spontaneous healing within 48 h (Spontaneous, 5 UTN), no bandage (0Cast, 8 UTN, 3 BTN) or treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and support bandage (StV, 3 UTN) or fiberglass cast (Cast, 40 UTN, 9 BTN). Treated cows were re-examined five times (14, 21, 28, 42 and 56 days after the first presentation). The plasma activity of creatine kinase was measured at the last re-examination in 29 cows similar to measurement at day 0. RESULTS: The observed overall success rate of treatment of cows with UTN was considerably higher compared with untreated cows (Cast 98 % and StV 100 % vs. 0Cast 62 %). By comparison, the observed difference between treated and untreated cows with BTN was not so clear (78 % vs. 67 %). Recovering cows exhibited a calculated longer median survival time than cows that did not recover (545 d vs. 100 d). Plasma creatine kinase activities were increased initially and returned within the reference interval (434 U/l and 152 U/L) following treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Cows with ETN have an excellent prognosis provided that treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and stabilizing bandage is administered. In cows with BTN, the prognosis depended on the type and degree of the primary injury. Loss of skin sensitivity indicated a poor prognosis. From an economic standpoint, treatment of TN is indicated provided that the prognosis is good. In cows that had healed clinically, the average survival time extended into the following lactation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study highlights the advantages of a support bandage for the treatment of cows with TN. Compared with other peripheral neuropathies, muscle damage appears to be of particular importance in TN.

[Incidence, history and clinical findings of tibial neuropathy in German Holstein cows]. / Vorkommen, Vorbericht und klinisches Bild der Neuropathie des Nervus tibialis bei Deutsch-Holstein-Kühen.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to document the occurrence, history, and clinical findings of tibial neuropathy in German Holstein dairy cows in order to yield information regarding the importance and etiology of this disorder in dairy herds in Central Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was undertaken between January 2013 and October 2017 and included 88 German Holstein dairy cows with unilateral (UTN, n = 71) or bilateral (n = 17, BTN) tibial neuropathy. Data were collected from the history as well as the clinical and laboratory examinations. Three grades of paresis were defined. RESULTS: The percentage of cows with tibial neuropathy among all German Holstein dairy cows presented with disorders of the locomotor system in the study period amounted to 2.2 %. UTN was seen predominantly following dystocia or as a result of prolonged lateral recumbency in consequence to a primary disease. The majority of cases of BTN occurred in association with the resumption of cyclicity following calving. These were accompanied by clinical signs of a cauda equina syndrome. Increased plasma activities of creatine kinase (UTN 98 %; BTN 100 %) and aspartate aminotransferase (UTN 89 %; BTN 100 %) were observed in nearly all affected cows. CONCLUSIONS: Tibial neuropathy is a regularly occurring disorder in dairy herds in Central Germany. The condition results in pain and locomotor impairment and therefore constitutes a welfare concern. UTN and BTN have different causes, and the history combined with clinical signs (severity of paresis) provides etiological information. Increased enzymatic activities suggest a muscular involvement in the disease process.

[Tibial nerve paresis in eight dairy cows: symptomatic therapy with a synthetic resin cast]. / Nervus-tibialis-Parese bei acht Milchkühen - symptomatische Therapie mithilfe eines Kunstharzverbands.

OBJECTIVE: Tibial paresis is commonly seen in bovine practice as a sequel to dystocia. The tibial nerve supplies the extensor muscles of the hock joint and the flexor muscles of the digits; affected cows are lame and have a dropped hock and knuckling of the fetlock. Complete functional recovery occurs not consistently after a conservative "wait and see" approach. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of a cast applied to the lower portion of the affected limb as a supportive treatment of tibial nerve paresis in cows. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight dairy cows with tibial nerve paresis from different farms were presented for treatment. Seven cows had unilateral tibial nerve paresis and one cow, which was barely able to stand, had bilateral tibial paresis. The affected legs of the seven cows with unilateral paresis and the more severely affected leg of the remaining cow were stabilized using a cast made of synthetic resin. The claws and the skin of the affected limbs were cleaned and a thick layer of cotton was applied to pad the leg from the foot to the hock. A cast was then applied with the foot and metatarsus aligned in a straight line. The cast included the entire foot and extended to the hock. The cast was removed after 4 weeks. RESULTS: All of the eight cows could be kept in their normal environment. They were able to walk well with the cast and were only mildly lame. Feed intake and milk yield increased. After removal of the cast, seven of the eight cows walked normally, including the cow of which both legs had been affected. One cow was slightly lame with a dropped hock after cast removal but showed a normal gait 3 weeks later. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In cows with tibial paresis, casting of the lower portion of the leg was a useful supportive treatment that resulted in restoration of normal gait. In seven of eight treated cows limb function was normal after 4 weeks, and in one cow after 7 weeks. This supportive therapeutic procedure is straightforward, minimizes aftercare and allows the cow to be kept in her normal environment.

Compressive damage to the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve associated with lameness caused by proximal suspensory desmitis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe pathologic changes in the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve (DBLPN) of horses determined to be lame because of proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD), and to report the outcome after treatment by excision of a segment of the horses' DBLPN. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Adult horses (n=16). METHODS: Horses determined to be lame on one or both pelvic limbs because of PSD were treated by excision of a segment of the DBLPN, and 30 nerves were examined histologically. Owners were contacted to obtain information about the horses >or=6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Histologic changes suggestive of chronic nerve compression were identified in both nerves of 11 bilaterally lame horses and in the lame limb of 5 unilaterally lame horses. The nerve of the sound limb of 2 of 3 unilaterally lame horses that had bilateral nerve resection also had histologic changes compatible with nerve compression. Ten of 16 horses (62.5%) with follow-up information returned to soundness after excision of the DBLPN. CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic changes of the DBLPN associated with compression may complicate PSD of the pelvic limbs. Excision of the nerve may resolve lameness caused by PSD. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Horses lame because of PSD of the pelvic limb may remain lame after desmitis has resolved because of compression of the DBLPN. Excising a portion of this nerve may resolve lameness.