| 17.External Skeletal Fixation for Management of Open Comminuted Metacarpal Fracture in a Pregnant Cow: A Clinical Case Report |
| Ravikant Sharma, Meenakshi Singh, Divyanshi Singh, Gaurav Kumar Verma, Rupam Sinha, Aditya Kumar, DVVN Durga Prasad, Dharam Prakash Srivastava and Ratnesh Kumar Chaudhary |
| A five-year-old pregnant cow was presented with a history of right forelimb lameness and an open wound persisting for two months. The case was diagnosed as an open comminuted fracture of the proximal metacarpal bone with chronic wound infection. Previous management with splinting had been unsuccessful, resulting in abscess formation and persistent discharge. External skeletal fixation using multiple cross-passed K-wires and epoxy compound was employed to provide rigid stabilization. Appropriate wound management, systemic therapy, and supportive care facilitated progressive healing. This report highlights the clinical approach and outcome of external skeletal fixation in a chronic metacarpal fracture case under field conditions. Keywords: Cow, Metacarpal fracture, External skeletal fixation, Open fracture, Orthopedic management |