title: Decision making in ruminant orthopedics.
abstract: Decision making in ruminant orthopedics is determined by many factors, the most of important of which is age, size, and value of the patient, the nature of the injury, the prognosis for effective treatment and satisfactory healing, the intentions of the client, and the experiences of the veterinarian. Ruminant orthopedics currently is expanding to include the treatment of llamas and small ruminants as companion animals in addition to the treatment of valuable livestock. The future promises increasing sophistication in treatments and an ever higher quality of patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fessler
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002161:Camelids, New World; D002417:Cattle; D003657:Decision Making; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D006041:Goats; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography; D012418:Ruminants / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012756:Sheep