bovis - Articles
Post-calving paralysis
Synonym(s): dystocia calving obturator sciatic down nerve damage lower motor neurone dysfunction
Introduction
- Post-calving paralysis describes a spectrum of neuromuscular damage of traumatic origin.
- Cause: traumatic nerve damage during calving, usually associated with an oversized calf or prolonged second stage labor.
- Signs: signs of lower motor neurone dysfunction which varies depending on nerves involved and severity of trauma.
- Diagnosis: diagnosis is based on presenting signs, clinical history and careful clinical examination to rule out differential diagnoses.
- Treatment: casualty slaughter is an option if prognosis deemed poor. Intensive nursing care is the mainstay of treatment +/- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Unilaterally affected animals should be housed with soft bedding which provides plenty of grip. Recumbent animals require regular turning to minimize pressure myopathy.
- Prognosis: very variable and difficult to predict. Neuropraxia generally takes around 3 weeks to resolve, but is very difficult to differentiate from permanent damage.
Age predisposition
- All ages.
- Heifers have been shown to be more prone to sciatic nerve damage than multiparous dams following calving.
Public health considerations
- Animals are fit for casualty slaughter if no withdrawal periods in place and prognosis is deemed poor.
Cost considerations
- Cost of treatment is very low as it mostly involves nursing care.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Direct pressure on the obturator nerve or sixth lumbar nerve route within the maternal pelvis.
- Caused by oversized calf or a calf that is stuck in the pelvis.
Predisposing factors
- Oversized calf.
- Prolonged calving.
- Calf becoming hip-locked.
- Small narrow maternal pelvis.
Pathophysiology
- Within the pelvis, the obturator nerve runs along the medial shaft of the ileum, and the sixth lumbar nerve route runs ventral to the sacral ridge.
- These nerves are vulnerable to compression during calving.
- Compression -> ischemia -> inflammation and edema -> +/- permanent structural damage to neurons.
- Compression can be direct and acute (the calf) or indirect and chronic (inflammation of surrounding tissues). Often a combination of both is seen.
Timecourse
- Lower motor neurone dysfunction is seen immediately after calving.
- If temporary neuropraxia, clinical signs gradually improve over the course of around 3 weeks.
Epidemiology
- Occurs sporadically.
- Selection of bull breed and individual variation can affect the likely size of the calf.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Rees G M (2015) Postpartum emergencies in the cow. In Practice 38 (1), 23-31.
- Huxley J (2006) Assessment and management of the recumbent cow. In Practice 28, 176-184.
- Burnett M G & Zager E L (2004) Pathophysiology of Peripheral Nerve Injury: A Brief Review. Neurosurgical Focus 16 (5), PubMed.
- Divers T J (2004) Acquired spinal cord and peripheral nerve disease. Vet Clin North Am 20, 231-242 PubMed.
- Cox V S & Beazile J E (1973) Experimental bovine obturator paralysis. Vet Rec 93, 109-110 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Noakes D (2009) Arthur’s Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics. 9th edn. Saunders Elsevier.