Femoral fracture repair in a three-day-old Holstein Heifer Calf

Abstract

A 3 day old Holstein heifer calf was presented to the Cornell Farm Animal Emergency service on April 6, 2014 for treatment and evaluation a large swelling of the left hip. The owner also noted that the calf was acutely down and unable to stand. Upon arrival to the Farm Animal Hospital, radiographs were taken of the left hind limb and a closed, comminuted, complete, transverse, mid-diaphyseal femoral fracture with proximocaudal displacement was diagnosed. The calf was admitted to the hospital and scheduled for surgery to repair the fractured femur. The owner elected for surgical repair of the fracture because of the economic value that this calf exhibited because of her high scoring dam and grand dam according to Genomics scoring.