Surgical management and mineral status of buffaloes with upward fixation of patella

Estimation of macro and micro minerals was done in 15 apparently healthy buffaloes (group I) and 37 buffaloes suffering from upward fixation of patella (group II). Most buffaloes were in the age group of 6–9 yr (43.32%). 29.72% buffaloes were primiparous and showed exaggerated symptoms in winter (67.56%). In 45.9% buffaloes, patellar luxation was bilateral. No significant difference was noticed in the total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count between the groups. Serum magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus and blood bicarbonate levels did not differ significantly between groups I and II. However, serum calcium was significantly higher (P≤0.01) in group II (8.39±0.32 mg/dL) than in group I (5.88±0.36 mg/dL). Alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, plasma copper, iron and manganese did not vary significantly between the groups. Plasma zinc was significantly lower (P≤0.01) in group II than in group I (44.57±2.45 μmol/L). Thirty four animals of group II recovered uneventfully after medial patellar desmotomy. However, lateral luxation of patella was recorded as the postoperative complication of medial patellar desmotomy in three cases.