World Veterinarian Quiz 36

INTRODUCTION

• Tail is the important organ used by the animal to ward off the flies and insects which are responsible for transmission of certain diseases and stress.
• Tail is composed of 18 to 20 vertebrae, muscles, fascia and skin. 
• The tail is prone to various affections like:

            Dermatitis,

            Trauma,

            Necrosis,

            Gangrene,

            Fracture,

            Paralysis,

            Luxation ,

            Diskospondylitis etc.

            Tumors of tail and tail rot occur occasionally. 

• Diseases of the tail may be treated conservatively or by amputation  cranial to the affected area.
• Most of these affections do not respond to the routine medical management and demand amputation of the tail.

Anatomy 

Muscles Involve :

• Sacrococcygeus dorsalis: These muscles are lie on either side of the dorsomedian aspect of the tail

• Sacrococcygeus lateralis : muscle lie immediately lateral to dorsalis.

• Sacrococcygeus ventralis: Muscle lie on the ventral aspect of sacrum and coccygeal.

• Intertransversalis caudae: Muscle lie on the lateral aspect of the tail between sacrococcygeus lateralis and ventralis.

Blood supply:

1)Middle Coccygeal artery

2)Two lateral Coccygeal veins.

Nerve supply:

1. Coccygeal Nerves

What is Amputation ?

• Derived from latin word Amputer,

• To cut away from ambi(“about”, “around”) and puture (“to prune”).

• Amputation is the complete removal of an injured or deformed body parts.

 

Indications 

TRAUMATIC INJURIES

Tail injuries are commonly seen in ruminants and horses as a result of trauma.

Etiology

⇒An open wound may develop due to rubbing of tail as in pruritus (an unpleasant sensation of the skin, provoking the desire to scratch or rub it).

⇒Fracture or dislocation of the tail (coccygeal vertebrae) as a consequence of trapping between two fixed objects.

⇒An injury may be caused by the attendant itself by twisting the tail to get the animal to move or stand.

⇒If the tail is injured near the sacrococcygeal area, complete paralysis may occur.

Treatment

⇒Wound - Antiseptic dressing of the wound after cleaning.

⇒Fracture - Application of padded splint.

⇒Paralysis/Necrosis - Amputation.

NECROSIS OF TAIL

⇒ Necrosis of tail may be encountered in any animal species but buffaloes are more prone to this condition.

Etiology

•        Trauma is the initiating cause of this situation.

•        Predisposing factors: Close confinement, slated concrete floors, large body weight and hot season may lead to trauma and consequent infection.

•       Pressure caused by rope or string tied tightly to lift the tail up, the other end being tied to the saddle (especially in camel).

•  Application of too tight bandages in treatment of fractured tail may lead to ischemic necrosis.

Clinical signs

•         Mild case - Dry necrosis and alopecia.

•         Moderate case - Swollen and necrotic with areas of abscessation.

•         Severe case - Multiple abscessation and severe gangrene.

Treatment

•    Cleaning, application of antiseptic and antibiotic is indicated in mild necrotic cases.

•   Abscess, if developed, should be opened and pyogenic membrane is destroyed with any irritant solution followed by daily antiseptic dressing of the wound with betadine, magnesium sulphate and glycerine. Parenteral antibiotics are necessary based on sensitivity results.

• In severe and protracted cases, amputation is recommended 

Successful management of tail amputation 

1. By using Docking Knife

                                                            

2. By Flap method

Ø     ‘V’ shaped flap method

Ø     ‘U’ shaped flap method 

Surgical Procedure

1. First of all, Buffalo was restrain in Travis in standing position.

2.Tail was clean with clean water. Then Shaving and scrub was done and prepare a site for aseptic surgery. 

3. Whole tail was covered with bandage 

4. A tourniquet was applied at the base of tail to control the bleeding

5. By hanging pump method, first inter coccygeal space was identified, and 5ml  2% lignocaine is administer epidural.

 6. Also 5 ml 2% lignocaine was administer locally below the tourniquet was

 applied 

   

7. Then, two lateral vein and mid coccygeal artery on ventral side were ligated.

8. ‘V’ shaped incision was made on dorsal and ventral surface of the tail

9.Two flaps one on dorsal and the other on ventral side are made at the site of operation after palpating the articulation.

10. Prominent vessels at the lateral and ventral aspect were identified and ligated using absorbable suture materials.

11. Then, tourniquet was removed ,

12. Intervertebral space was located by blunt object dissection and the joint was disarticulated with the help of B.P. blade. The distal portion of the tail was then removed. 

13. Both Dorsal and ventral skin flaps were sutured/united by Horizontal Mettress suture manner using silk.

14.Benzoine seal was applied on suture line.

Post operative care:-

 Antibiotic:-inj.PAM(penicillinGprocaine)8000IU/kgB.wti/m (Total

dose) 3-5days.

 Antihistaminic:-inj.Clorpheniraminemalate30-50mg(Totaldose)

I/m 3-5days.

 NSAID:-inj.ketoprofen@ 3mg/kgB.wti/m 3-5days.

 Regular antiseptic dressing with 5%povidone iodine(Betadine).

 Removal the suture 12th day after post operative care