Long-term treatments of osteomyelitis caused by metatarsal traumatic infections in Japanese black heifer and calf

Abstract

There are few reports on long-term treatment of bovine osteomyelitis. In this study, two cattle (Japanese black heifer and calf) suffered damage to the dorsal metatarsal below the tarsus due to their hind limbs becoming caught in a metal fence, with consequent struggling and thrashing, causing osteomyelitis of the metatarsal. We present these two cases of osteomyelitis of the metatarsal and compare their: clinical conditions, effects of long-term treatment, and clinical outcomes. In Case 1, the heifer underwent surgical removal of the sequestrum, followed by washing the wound with antibiotics, and was cured within 130 days of treatment. In case 2, treatment for the calf was focused on washing the osteomyelitis and controlling the inflammation with antibiotics without surgical treatment, thereby reducing the cost of treatment, and was cured within 155 days of treatment. As a result, the hospital stay in Case 1 was shorter than in Case 2. In conclusion, in this case report with an adult cow and a calf, long-term washing of the wound and surgical removal of the sequestrum are effective measures against bovine osteomyelitis caused by metatarsal contusion involving a hind limb.

Keywords: Osteomyelitis; Sequestrum; Surgical treatment; Traumatic infection; Wound-washing treatment.