title: Surgical correction of metacarpophalangeal valgus deformity in an alpaca.
abstract: A 1-month-old alpaca cria presented with a 13 degree valgus deformity of the left metacarpophalangeal joint. The angular limb deformity was centered on the distal metacarpal physes. Transphyseal bridging of the physes was recommended. Two 2.7 mm cortical bone screws were placed either side of the distal metacarpal physes and a figure of eight wire was placed medially around the screw heads. The screws extended through the medial metacarpus into the axial cortex of the lateral metacarpus. Seven weeks after surgery the limb was straight and the screws and wire were removed. Transphyseal bridging of the distal metacarpal physes can be effectively used for the treatment of metacarpophalangeal valgus in crias with open physes.
authors.affiliation: University Veterinary Centre Camden, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camden NSW 2570, Australia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000662:veterinary; D001864:Bone Wires / Q000662:veterinary; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome