Handling fractures in calves for best outcome

Dear Daktari, thank you so much for your informative column on matters of livestock health. I am an upcoming dairy farmer in Nandi County. I have several calves on my farm, and recently one of them fractured one of its hindlegs. What I did not understand is how this happened considering that the affected calve was only a few weeks old and was confined most of the time. A cast was applied, and the calf healed fast. My question is, what could have caused the fracture? Could it have occurred during delivery? 

Onesmus Kipchumba, Cheptulu, Nandi County 

Thank you so much, Onesimus for reading Smart Harvest and for also taking the time to write back to us. Fractures in calves are a common occurrence. Yes, we can postulate that the fracture might have happened during birth, especially if it was aided after a difficult birth (dystocia). There are many other causes, nonetheless. Lower limb fractures are common in the case of dystocia as a result of trauma from the handler when delivering oversized calves or those with backward presentation. Fractures can also occur owing to their playful nature or confinement.     

Fractures can also occur when calves are mixed with mature animals, which can easily trample on them or during transportation. Unlike mature animals, calves have the advantage of low weight, making splinting and casting possible with a good success rate. The prognosis for fractures in calves is generally favourable. However, recovery depends on the affected bone, the location of the fracture within the bone and whether or not there is an open wound around the fractured part.

Early recognition of the fracture is important in increasing the probability of healing. Recognition of a fracture is easy when it is a severe case where the leg is obviously dangling out of place and visibly lame. However, a fracture through the growth plate may be hard to pick out as they remain fairly stable and can externally present only with a slight deviation of the leg; which many people miss.

Like any other condition, proper diagnosis is important in ensuring a good prognosis (good outcome). An X-ray is the best diagnostic tool for confirming the presence, location and degree of a fracture. However, livestock X-ray machines are not as popular, leaving most vets with only one option of careful observation, inspection and palpation of suspected limbs while checking for the presence of pain.

Other observable clinical features are swelling, coldness and breakage in the skin (wound). In an animal clinic setting, there are better options that can further analyse a fracture through X-ray pictures and assessment of tissue injury and nerve functioning to point at an effective treatment option.

The type of fracture will determine the treatment option and the outcome of the treatment. Just like with all other types of fractures, treatment is based on limiting the movement of the affected part or parts. Casts and splints work by immobilising the joints above and below the affected parts.

For good healing, the calf will need to be confined for two months, provided with comfortable bedding, quality feeds and water and most importantly, separated from others.

[Dr. Othieno is a veterinary surgeon and currently the head of communications at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Kenya. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of FAO but his own]