Bovine Holstein Fresian 2 Years of age Female. Found with evidence of acute wound on the front right distal limb. Radiographs of the region were taken. Dorsopalmar (on the left) and lateromedial view of the distal right front limb. Radiographic findings
- There is moderate to severe soft tissue swelling centred at the level of the fetlock joint and accentuated dorsal and lateral. The border of the skin is irregular with laceration dorsally and focal at the level of the proximal MC bone, medially.
- The opacity of the soft tissue swelling is very heterogenous with multiple gas inclusions mainly dorsally (arrow).
- There is an additional gas collection, smooth and ovoid in shape, palmar to the distal MC bone (empty arrow).
- Bony structures are normal.
Radiographic diagnosis
- Open fetlock joint front right, septic arthritis.
- Severe open soft tissue trauma with laceration and swelling, subcutaneous emphysema.
Close up of the LM view of the fetlock front right. Comments
- Due to the poor prognosis, the patient was euthanized.
- The fetlock joint in bovine is a composite joint articulating two sesamoid bones and carpal condyles.
- The felock joint of the 3rd and the 4th digits have their own independent joint recess. Both cavities, however, communicate via a slit comparable to the opening of the joint sacs in the area of the incisura intercapitalis. This opening is sufficiently wide to permit the spread of infection from one fetlock joint to that of the neighbouring digit. However, this opening it too small to flush both joints efficiently form one side.
- Presence of gas within the joint is a pathognomic radiographic sign of open joint, once excluded iatrogenic injections.
