HO Reuter, [26 Sep 2023 at 22:04:36 (02 Oct 2023 at 09:08:39)]: This radiograph was taken of an almost 3-year-old rhino bull that has been lame on and off for almost 2 years. A mature bull threw him over when the animal was a year old, and he was very lame afterwards. Since then, he has improved, but never fully mobile, but at times (especially in winter) is much lamer again. Another bull does from time to time show aggression, as well as attempting to mounting the young bull, and this may have caused an injury again? The young bull is definitely sore on his left front leg and prefers not to put full weight on this leg, often shuffling, rather than lifting the foot, and dropping his carpus when bearing weight. I hardly look at radiographs, and am not sure what to make of the distal radius growth plate. Double open space? The lameness had improved following 2x Previcox 277 mg tablets daily, and post darting with butorphanol, medetomidine, midazolam, ketamine, and treatment with Finadyne, Excede, Kyroligo, etc, seemed a lot less lame for a while. (It’s also warmer weather now). Blood calcium and phosphate levels are normal. If there is a growth plate abnormality, are there any practical treatment options? Ulf Tubessing, [26 Sep 2023 at 22:10:15]: Hi HO. The more proximal black line looks like a fracture line with sclerotic (whiter) margins. The actual growth plate is the wider more distal margin which has a smoother appearance. Do you have other views of that leg? Quite likely that this is a non-union fragment involving the joint surface HO Reuter : Ulf Tubessing, [27 Sep 2023 at 06:33:36]: I stick to my earlier opinion HO. The AP view of carpal joint has insufficient penetration to add additional information. The sclerosis along the fracture line worries me. Maybe consider keeping this animal in "cage rest" ie. boma confinement for 2-3 months to rest the leg and allow healing? I have seen an oblique tibia # in black rhino heal with this approach HO Reuter, [27 Sep 2023 at 06:55:02]: Thank you Ulf! I had wondered about “cage rest” / boma confinement. Unfortunately, there are no other similar aged young rhino on this farm to put in the boma together for company, and no boma yet. Ulf Tubessing, [27 Sep 2023 at 07:03:14]: Maybe move him to another place with such facility? HO Reuter, [27 Sep 2023 at 10:54:43]: Apart from confining in boma, would a scotch cast boot be advantageous, or will the risk of a pressure sore outweigh the benefit of the cast? Pierre Nel, 1 October 2023 HO, I get the idea that bone healing is not a thing rhino evolved to do well as they very seldom break bones in nature. There often seems to be almost no callus formation. Johan Marais can maybe comment if plates & screws are the answer🤷♂️ HO Reuter, [01 Oct 2023 at 21:44:13]: Thanks Pierre (and of course Ulf for previous comments and suggestions). Would plates and screws hold in rhino, considering their weight and short stumpy legs and distal locality of the fracture? The rhino is walking OK at the moment, but definitely still lame and not fully weight bearing. Plates and screws vs. just boma rest vs cast? Any more suggestions and experience in rhino (or horses) with similar non-healing close to growth plate fractures? HO Reuter, [02 Oct 2023 at 10:54:28]: Johan Marais’s comment on the rhino’s radiograph was: “Double line you see is because the growth plate is not flat, but curved. The carpus dropping / sagging is concerning and sounds like asoft tissue problem, especially because it has been going on 2 years... Soft tissue e.g. one of the flexors of the carpus that got injured.” We are looking at options to build a boma or move him to a boma for rest and in feed treatment with carprofen.
