Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Rajeev Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pondicherry-9
Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar-585 401 (Karnataka)
Nine month old female HF cross bred calf was brought with the history of automobile accident and grade IV lameness of right fore limb. Clinical examination of the calf revealed fracture of right humerus with radial nerve paralysis. Radiographic examination of the right shoulder region showed oblique overriding distal diaphyseal fracture of humerus. Under sedation with Xylazine and local infiltration analgesia with 2% Lignocaine HCl at the right shoulder, the fractured site was approached. The fractured ends were brought out and the medullary canal of proximal fragment was predrilled with 4 mm dia. Steinmann pin and a 6 mm dia. distally threaded Shanz screw was passed into the medullary canal of proximal fragment by retrograde method and the distal fragment was aligned and the threaded end of the Shanz screw was driven into the medullary canal. The Shanz screw was hammered till it reached the distal end of humerus. The muscle and skin incisions were closed by routine manner. The site was immobilized externally by flexing the knee and elbow and application of plaster of Paris bandage. The animal was administered with antibiotic and analgesic for a period of 1 week and periodical postoperative check X-rays were made to assess the healing. The cutaneous sutures were removed on 10th postoperative day and the plaster cast was removed after 4 weeks. The animal started using the limb after 6th week and the Shanz screw was removed on 8th week and it made an uneventful recovery.
