New possibilities for the diagnosis of septic tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath in cattle using sonography--therapy and long-term results

Sonographic examination is a new and very effective method in diagnosing of septic tenosynovitis in cattle and may be regarded as an valuable help to the classic diagnostic methods. Among 563 patients, 22 animals suffered exclusively from a serofibrinous, purulent or necrotising tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath. In 11 cases, a resection of both flexor tendons, in 2 cases a resection of the deep flexor tendon only were performed, and in 4 cases the tendon sheath was surgically opened and irrigated. 5 animals were slaughtered after diagnosing, because both tendon sheaths of the same limb suffered from a purulent or necrotising tenosynovitis. Surgery was performed using intravenous regional anesthesia and antibiosis. Clinical, radiographic, sonographic and centesis findings are presented. Sonography enabled an accurate assessment of the extent of the inflammation and an assessment of eventual adhesions. It was therefore possible to obtain a comprehensive preoperative image about the condition of the diseased tendon sheath. Intraoperative findings are compared with sonographic diagnosis. After an average hospitalisation of 26.5 days, the patients returned to their owners. Postoperative long term follow-up from 8 months to a maximum of 8 years was evaluated in 17 animals. The minimum duration of economic use of all animals averaged 29.2 months with a range of 1 to 69 months. At the time of survey 9 cows (52.9%) were still alive. 15 cows (88.2%) produced a total of 34 calves with a maximum of 6 calves in one cow. Details on the status of the operated limb, the postoperative milk yield and reasons for culling are discussed.