Abstract
Simple SummaryInfections of the subtendinous calcaneal bursa (SCB) in cattle are mainly caused by pressure sores and directly penetrating wounds. We describe the clinical, ultrasonographic and radiographic findings and outcomes in cattle diagnosed with this condition, including postoperative complications and postoperative survival times. Medical records of 29 cattle with a mean age of 4.1 years were reviewed. Twelve animals (41.4%) showed septic inflammation of the SCB only (group 1) and 17 cattle (58.6%) had a concurrent bone infection at the calcaneal tuber (group 2). Eleven cattle (37.9%) were euthanized after diagnosis due to poor prognosis. Eighteen (62.1%) patients underwent surgical treatment and 15 cattle attained full recovery with a median cumulative postoperative survival time of 23.0 months. Surgically treated patients of group 1 had a success rate of 100%, compared with 70% in group 2. Group 2 cattle with septic inflammation of the SCB and concurrent bone infection had more postoperative complications and tended to have shorter postoperative survival times. In conclusion, cattle exclusively suffering from septic SCB and treated by surgery had a good prognosis.Septic subtendinous calcaneal bursitis in cattle commonly results from hock lesions, and less commonly from penetrating wounds. The goal of this retrospective study was to describe clinical and diagnostic imaging findings, outcomes, postoperative complications and postoperative survival times (SURV-T) in cattle with this condition. Clinical data from 29 cattle with a mean age of 4.1 years were included. Twelve (41.4%) cattle were assigned to group 1 (septic bursitis only) and 17 (58.6%) to group 2 (septic bursitis, concurrent bone infection at the calcaneal tuber (CT) and lesions of the superficial digital flexor tendon. Eleven cattle (37.9%) with comorbidities were euthanized after diagnosis due to poor prognosis. Surgical treatment was performed in 18 (62.1%) patients of which 15 showed full recovery and a median cumulative SURV-T of 23.0 months. The success rate of surgically treated patients was 100% (8/8) in group 1 and 70% (7/10) in group 2. There was no statistically significant association (p > 0.05) between the duration of septic bursitis and concurrent bone infection at the CT with occurrence of postoperative complications and SURV-T. However, there was a clear trend favoring more postoperative complications and shorter SURV-T in cattle with concurrent CT bone infection. In conclusion, cattle with septic subtendinous calcaneal bursitis exclusively have a good prognosis, provided adequate surgical treatment is performed.
Highlights
This article is an open access article. Integument lesions, such as circumscribed hairless areas, scabs, decubital wounds and inflammatory swellings at exposed, peri-articular bony protuberances, are commonly described in cubicle-housed, free-stall [1,2,3] and tie-stall dairy cows [4,5,6]. Such skin lesions on the legs of cows commonly occur at the lateral tarsal region and the lateral and medial aspects of the calcaneal tuber (CT)
Hock lesions in cattle may result from direct trauma following cuts or lacerating wounds, which are presented to the veterinarian in most cases after some delay as infected wounds associated with moderate-to-severe swelling [10,11,12]
The cumulative survival times (SURV-T) values of successfully treated cattle were evaluated in September 2020 by telephone interviews with farmers and by accessing the Cattle-Database of AgrarMarkt Austria (AMA)
Summary
This article is an open access article Integument lesions, such as circumscribed hairless areas, scabs, decubital wounds and inflammatory swellings at exposed, peri-articular bony protuberances, are commonly described in cubicle-housed, free-stall [1,2,3] and tie-stall dairy cows [4,5,6]. Such skin lesions on the legs of cows commonly occur at the lateral tarsal region and the lateral and medial aspects of the calcaneal tuber (CT). In contrast to the horse [13], direct, penetrating wounds implicating tarsal synovial cavities (bursae, joint, tendon sheaths) occur less frequently in bovines [10,14]
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