[Emergency treatment of limb fractures in large and small ruminants]

Limb fractures in cattle have to be treated as emergencies. The success or failure of treatment depends on a careful examination and adequate emergency treatment by the veterinarian. The most important rules in an emergency treatment are the evaluation of the general systemic conditions and the initiation of whatever supportive care is required. Further attention should be paid to thoroughly rinsing and disinfecting open wounds and to immobilizing fractures for transport purposes. In 39 cases the localisation and the type of fracture were determined and the clinical relevance of a careful examination and emergency treatment was evaluated. Metacarpal fractures were the most common type of fracture. Open fractures were more likely to occur in cases of insufficient immobilisation than with properly attended patients (p less than 0,01). Open fractures have a poorer prognosis than closed fractures (p less than 0.002).