title: Corrective Osteotomy of a Metacarpal Deviation Caused by Fracture in a 9-Month-Old German Fleckvieh Heifer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the surgical treatment of a metacarpal deviation caused by an untreated Salter-Harris type I fracture in a heifer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  9-month-old German Fleckvieh heifer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A closing wedge osteotomy was performed to correct deviation of fused metacarpal III and IV. A triangular bone wedge was removed and the proximal and distal fragments of the bone were brought into apposition and stabilized with an 11-hole T-plate. A full-limb cast was applied postoperative.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radiographs were taken at 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperative. No postoperative complications occurred and the heifer was discharged from the clinic 51 days after surgery. Radiographs taken 6 months after discharge showed periosteal callus formation around the closing wedge osteotomy. At 24 months postoperative, implants were intact and the heifer was in good general condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Closing wedge osteotomy was successfully performed in a heifer with a metacarpal deviation, correcting the malunion after a untreated Salter-Harris type I fracture. Radiographs showed evidence of osteotomy healing and the heifer had full use of the affected leg at 24 months postoperative.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services at the Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich-Oberschleißheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Theresa S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tschoner
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Small Animal Surgery and Reproduction at the Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Roberto G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Köstlin
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services at the Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich-Oberschleißheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feist
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D050279:Metacarpal Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography