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Management of bilateral flexural deformity of the metacarpophalangeal joints in three alpaca crias
Author(s) -
CASHMAN T,
DART AJ,
O'SHEA A,
HODGSON DR
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1999.tb12120.x
Subject(s) - medicine , deformity , metacarpophalangeal joint , splints , ligament , limiting , conservative treatment , surgery , anatomy , thumb , mechanical engineering , engineering
Three neonatal alpacas were treated for MCPflexural deformities. Two crias responded well to conservative therapy using splints made from fibreglass cast material. One cria with severe deformity failed to respond to conservative treatment but recovered satisfactorily after transection of the suspensory ligament in both legs. It seems that mild cases of flexural deformity of the MCP joint in alpaca crias respond well to conservative therapy but that surgical correction may be required in more severe cases. Sequential transection of the structures limiting extension of the MCP joint may result in fewer complications than previously reported techniques.