Severe osteochondrosis and rupture of the tuber calcaneus in cattle: A case report

This paper describes the clinical and pathological findings in two one-year-old steers with severe osteochondrosis associated with a history of progressive lameness and partial or complete rupture of the common calcaneal tendons at the sites of attachment to the tuber calcanei. Four animals in a group of 20 growing beef cattle were clinically affected. Clinical investigation showed lameness (grades 3 and 4, on a 1-5 scale), thickening of several joints with a reduced range of movement, and straightening (hyperextension) of the hocks. Pathological examination revealed partial and complete rupture of the tuber calcanei with fibrosis and new bone formation, along with cartilage defects on multiple joint surfaces consistent with osteochondrosis dissecans. It was recommended that the remaining two animals be slaughtered in view of the poor prognosis.