Repairing Humeral Fractures Using External Fixation in a Japanese Black Calf
2006 Volume 59 Issue 2 Pages 109-111
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2006 Volume 59 Issue 2 Pages 109-111
three-day-old Japanese Black calf was unable to bear weight on its right fore limb and could not walk. Palpation and radiography of the limb showed a short oblique fracture of the humerus and radial nerve damage. After a lateral open approach, a unilateral external fixator with a single bar was used to immobilize the fracture. The calf was weight bearing three days after surgery. Healing was observed by radiography at 51 days and the fixator was removed. The gait gradually returned to normal. The results suggested that the technique was useful for repairing a fracture when a plaster cast could not be used or when the bone is surrounded by heavy muscle.
