title: Clinical study of toe ulcer and necrosis of the apex of the distal phalanx in 53 cattle.
abstract: Clinical signs, causative factors, radiographic findings, type and duration of treatment or reason for killing were evaluated in 53 cattle (mean age: 5.3 years) suffering from toe ulcer and/or apical pedal bone necrosis. A total of 78 claws were affected. Four cattle suffered from a toe ulcer in one claw, 35 cattle showed osteolysis of the apex of the distal phalanx in a single claw and 14 cattle in two or three claws per cow. Overtrimming by means of a grinding disc and/or perforation of the sole was diagnosed as the major cause in 27 cattle (49%), laminitis in 30.2% and traumatic injuries in 11.3%. Radiography revealed a varying degree of osteolysis involving up to two-thirds of the pedal bone. Twenty-one cattle (39.6%) showing multiple toe disorders or involvement of one single claw with concurrent internal diseases were destroyed. In 23 cattle, the osteolytic bone was resected using a bone curette or hammer and chisel. Of these, the treatment was successful in 20 animals. The healing period ranged from 16-60 days when one claw was affected and from 43-53 days when two claws were affected. In five cattle, the digit was amputated.
authors: Large Animals Orthopaedics Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. johann.kofler@vu-wien.ac.at
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kofler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D011859:Radiography; D014456:Ulcer / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*