Comparative occurrence pattern of fractures in cattle and buffaloes

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dairy animals play an important role in the Indian economy. Knowledge of the occurrence pattern of long bone fractures in bovine may help in strategizing the possibilities of treatment and prognosis. This study aimed to find out the comparative occurrence pattern of fractures in cattle and buffaloes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 278 fractures of bovine (171 in cattle and 107 in buffaloes), presented to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, during a study of 1 year, were investigated for the occurrence pattern, in relation to species, age, body weight, gender, bone involved, type of fracture (closed or open), and the presentation of bovine as standing or in recumbent state. RESULTS: The overall hospital occurrence of fractures in bovine was 4.24% and most of the fractures resulted from slipping and falling on hard floor. Of 278 fractures, the majority (90.28%) involved long bones (n=251; 103 buffaloes and 148 cattle). Forelimb fractures were recorded more common in buffaloes (64.08%), whereas the cattle suffered more of hind limb fractures (60.23%). Cattle also included 11 cases of bilateral fractures of metacarpal (n=3), tibia (n=1), radius and ulna (n=1), and mandible (n=6). Fracture of olecranon constituted 6.83% (n=19) and majority (n=15) were in buffaloes. The cattle had higher percent of open fractures (54.38%) as compared to that in buffaloes (17.76%). Marginally higher percentage of cattle (33.33%) suffering from fracture were recumbent as compared to buffaloes (23.36%) and femur fractures were found to be a leading cause of recumbency (100% in cattle and 75.00% in buffaloes). CONCLUSION: Species-specific differences in the occurrence pattern of fractures exist among cattle and buffaloes. Cattle are found to be more susceptible (1.5 times) to fractures as compared to buffaloes. The buffaloes are vulnerable to forelimb fractures while the cattle to the hind limb. As compared to forelimb, long bone fractures of hind limb are more commonly associated with recumbency in bovine. Cattle are more prone to mandible fractures and the open fractures of long bones as compared to buffaloes.