Radiology of Cattle

Radiology of Cattle

Figure 1: Dorsopalmar/dorsoplantar view of normal bovine digits in a Holestein-Friesian cow, 3 years old, not weight-bearing on radiography.

Figure 2: Dorsolateral-palmaro (plantaro)-medial oblique view of normal bovine digits in a Holstein-Fresian cow, 3 years old, not weight-bearing on radiology.

Figure 3: Dorsopalmar/dorsoplantar view of a normal immature bovine foot in a Simmental calf, 2 months old, not weight-bearing on radiography.

Figure 4: Dorsopalmar view of a normal bovine carpus in a Holstein-Friesian cow, 3 years old.

Figure 5: Lateromedial view of a normal bovine carpus in a Holstein-Friesian cow, 3 years old.

Figure 6: Dorsoplantar view of a normal bovine tarsus in a Holstein cow, 3 years old.

Figure 7: Chronic osteophytosis. This polled Hereford bull, 6 years old, became acutely lame on its left hind limb 2 days previously, no previous lameness was observed. Dorsoplantar view. Mature, chronic osteophytes (arrows) are seen at the axial and subaxial margins of both distal interphalangeal joints. No soft tissue swelling or acute bone lesions are visible.

Figure 8: Uncomplicated fracture healing. This Angus calf, 6 months old, had a fractured metacarpus, stabilized by a cast, A, One day after injury, B, Two months after injury. Dorsopalmar views. Although there were multiple fragments, none were greatly displaced. Fracture lines are still faintly visible on follow-up but are bridged by well-developed internal and external callus.

Figure 9: Focal subchondral bone loss. The samehad chronic right forelimb lameness. A, Dorsolateral-palmaromedial view. B, Closeup of lateral digit in A. A subchondral bone lucency is seen in the distal palmarolateral aspect of the middle phalanx (arrows), indicating septic arthropathy involving the proximal interphalangeal joint in addition to the extensively damaged distal interphalangeal joint. This very focal lucency is not clearly visible on the dorsopalmar view.

Figure 10: Delayed union, severe. This Simmental calf, 3 months old, had an open, overriding fracture of the left metatarsus with extensive soft tissue injury, stabilized by a cast. Four weeks after injury. Dorsoplantar view. There is suboptimal periosteal new bone production, with little in the immediate area of the fracture. The fracture margins and most of the adjacent cortical surfaces are uncreative. There was ongoing soft tissue infection as well as chronic vascular injury, creating a delayed union, which could become a non-union through sequestration of the fracture ends.

Figure 11: Disuse osteopenia. This Holestein-Friesian calf, 3 months old, had septic arthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the left front medial digit, treated surgically. It has been in a cast for 3.5 weeks. Dorsopalmar view. In addition to a subtle overall decrease in bone opacity, the subchondral bone opacities at the unaffected joints have become thin distinct lines, and the mid-diaphyseal cortices of the proximal and middle phalanges have become thinner. There is early chronic periosteal new bone production on the proximal and middle phalanges of the medial digit, fairly homogeneous and distinctly marginated but not highly opaque. The osteomyelitis was deemed to be healing, in that the subchondral bone destruction had not increased and appeared somewhat more marginated. Also, soft tissue swelling had decreased.

Figure 12: Focal osteomyelitis. This Charolais cow, 7 years old, was lame on its right hind limb for 2 to 3 weeks. It had a draining tract on the axial aspect of the lateral claw. A, Dorsoplantar view. B, Dorsomedial-plantarolateral oblique view. C, Close up of lateral digit in B. On the dorsoplantar view (A), soft tissue swelling (open arrow) on the axial aspect of the lateral claw and periosteal new bone (solid arrow) on the diaphysis of the middle phalanx indicate cellulites and periostitis, but there is no visible sign of osteomyelitis. On the oblique views (B and C), focal destruction of the distal axial portion of the lateral navicular bone (open arrows) and the adjacent portion of the articular condyle of the middle phalanx (solid arrows) confirms osteomyelities and distal interphalangeal joint involvement.

Figure 13: Subsolar abscess. This Charolasis cow, 1 year old, had recent left forelimb lameness. A, On this dorsopalmar view, an aggregate of gas pockets is superimposed over the distal phalanx of the medial digit. Based on this view alone, the gas pockets could be either dorsal or palmer to the phalanx, or both. B, On this lateromedial view, although superimposition prevents determining which claw is involved, the gas pockets can be localized to the subsolar soft tissue. Superimposed gas shadows complicate analysis of underlying structures, but analysis of all views made, including oblique, revealed no conclusive bone involvement.

Figure 14: Radiograph of forelimbs affected with polydactyly.

Figure 15: Syndactyly in a neonatal Holestein calf. Note syndactyly of both forelimbs and partial syndactyly of the right rear foot.