[Mandibular fractures in cattle--treatment and results]

The results of a retrospective investigation of 25 cases of mandibular fractures in cattle are reported; 19 animals were treated and 6 slaughtered without therapy. Five cases of unilateral fracture of the pars molaris healed with conservative therapy, whereas the same method of treatment was unsuccessful in four cases with compound fractures (2 x pars incisiva, 1 x diastema, 1 x pars molaris) and in one with multiple fractures of the corpus and ramus of the mandible. For animals with symphyseal fractures, surgical fixation using cerclage wire (three cases) proved successful, as did percutaneous fixation in six animals with fractures of the diastema or body of the mandible. The fractures healed well in 14 out of 19 treated cattle and the animals were retained, on average, for a further four years.