Osseous sequestration in cattle: 110 cases (1987-1997)

Objective-To determine risk factors for development of sequestra in cattle and identify factors associated with a successful outcome. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-110 cattle. Procedure-Medical records of cattle treated at veterinary teaching hospital s in North America were reviewed. To determine risk factors for osseous seq uestration, breed, age, and sex of cattle with osseous sequestration were c ompared with breed, age, and sex of ail other cattle admitted during the st udy period. Results-110 cattle were included in the study. Three had 2 sequestra; thus, 113 lesions were identified. Most sequestra were associated with the bones of the extremities, most commonly the third metacarpal or third metatarsal bone. Ninety-two animals were treated surgically tie, sequestrectomy), 7 w ere treated medically, 3 were initially treated medically and were then tre ated surgically, and 8 were not treated. Follow-up information was availabl e for 65 animals treated surgically and 6 animals treated medically. Fifty- one (78%) animals treated surgically and 5 animals treated medically had a successful outcome. Cattle that were 6 months to 2 years old had a signific antly increased risk of developing a sequestrum compared with cattle < 6 mo nths old. Cattle in which sequestrectomy was performed with the aid of loca l anesthesia were significantly more likely to undergo 2 or more surgical p rocedures than were cattle in which sequestrectomy was performed with the a id of general anesthesia. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggest that sequestrectomy will result in a successful outcome for most cattle with osseous sequestration.