Cancellous bone grafting in the treatment of bovine septic physitis

Eleven young cattle (8-24 months of age) were treated for septic physitis of the metacarpal or metatarsal bones. Two new elements were added to the traditional treatment. Firstly, homologous cancellous bone grafts were used for their osteoinductive properties even in an infected surrounding. (Actinomyces pyogenes was recovered most commonly.) Secondly, a walking cast was applied for better immobilization of the lower limb with minimal discomfort to the animal. After surgery, the 11 bovine patients needed an average walking cast period of 4.5 weeks and 1 to 2 weeks' treatment with antibiotics. The new treatment regime expedites the healing process and shows a success rate of 100%. Follow-up after 6 months revealed that all animals were completely sound without recurrence of the physitis.