https://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-e34358
Received: 01/12/2023 Accepted: 21/01/2024 Published: 23/03/2024
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Revista Científica, FCV-LUZ / Vol. XXXIV, rcfcv-e34358
ABSTRACT
Fat–tailed sheep are a common breed in many parts of the world, and
coccygeal fractures occur in these animals due to various traumas. As
a result of these fractures, fracture hematoma occurs in the region
and subsequently gangrene occurs due to circulatory impairment in
the region. If the gangrened area is not treated, an open wound will
form, and infection will be inevitable due to its relationship with the
external environment. From this infected area, it causes sepsis and
more serious complications that deteriorate the general condition
of the creature, causing general condition disorders. However, it
can be treated by surgical partial extirpation of the area where the
coccygeal fracture occurs. In this study, the long–term recovery
period of a total of 30 adult fat–tailed sheep and rams with coccygeal
fractures treated with operative inverted V incision is followed. While
all cases are observed to have recovered, it is observed that their
productivity characteristics continued normal along with their walking
and adaptation to herd management. It is concluded that the partial
extirpation method, which is both cheap and effective, can be used
in fat–tailed sheep with coccygeal fractures and can be applied in
clinical practice. It is observed that the inverted V incision partial
extirpation operative technique is both an effective treatment option
and prevented economic losses in fat–tailed sheep.
Key words: Fat–tailed sheep; fatty tail healing; partial tail
extirpation, tail operation
RESUMEN
Las ovejas de cola gorda son una raza común en muchas partes del
mundo y en estos animales se producen fracturas coccígeas debido
a diversos traumatismos. Como resultado de estas fracturas, se
produce un hematoma por fractura en la región y posteriormente
se produce gangrena debido a un deterioro circulatorio en la
región. Si no se trata la zona gangrenada se formará una herida
abierta y la infección será inevitable debido a su relación con el
medio externo. A partir de esta zona infectada se produce sepsis y
complicaciones más graves que deterioran el estado general de la
criatura, provocando trastornos del estado general. Sin embargo,
puede tratarse mediante la extirpación quirúrgica parcial de la zona
donde se produce la fractura coccígea. En este estudio, se sigue el
período de recuperación a largo plazo de un total de 30 carneros
y ovejas de cola gruesa adultos con fracturas coccígeas tratados
con una incisión operativa en V invertida. Si bien se observa que
todos los casos se recuperaron, se observa que sus características
de productividad continuaron normales junto con su caminata y
adaptación al manejo del rebaño. Se concluye que el método de
extirpación parcial, que es económico y ecaz, puede utilizarse en
ovinos de cola gruesa con fracturas coccígeas y puede aplicarse en
la práctica clínica. Se observa que la técnica operativa de extirpación
parcial con incisión en V invertida es una opción de tratamiento ecaz
y evita pérdidas económicas en ovejas de cola gorda.
Palabras clave: Oveja de cola gorda; curación de cola grasa;
extirpación parcial de la cola; operación de la cola
Surgical Treatment of Coccygeal Fractures in Fat–Tailed Sheep
Tratamiento quirúrgico de fracturas coccígeas en ovejas de cola gruesa
Nahit Saylak
1
* , Serhat Çağatay
2
1
Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgery. Diyarbakır, Türkiye.
2
Dicle University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Student. Diyarbakır, Türkiye.
*Corresponding author: nsaylak@gmail.com
FIGURE 1. X–rays of coccygeal bone fractures of dierent cases.
Treatment of Coccygeal Fractures in Fatty-Tailed Sheep / Saylak and Çağatay _____________________________________________________
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INTRODUCTION
Domestic sheep (Ovis Aries) are classied into three biological
categories according to their tail morphology. These categories
include thick–tailed, thin–tailed and fat–rumped sheep [1, 2].
These animals are known to be the only mammal species that can
accumulates dense adipose tissue in their tail during developmental
stages [3]. Fat–tailed domestic sheep breeds have a uniquely evolved
capacity to inhibit fat metabolism and use it as an energy source
during prolong starvation. In addition, the fat in the tail is an energy
source for human consumption [2]. Excessive fat accumulation
leads to many health complications in humans, which creates a
predisposition for obesity, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension,
diabetes, and cancer [4].
However, diet therapy can be considered as a useful adjuvant
approach for the treatment of various diseases such as cancer [5].
On the other hand, dietary lipids like abnormal lipid metabolism
has been shown to be a key feature of cancer cell development, thus,
appropriate approach targeting lipid metabolism holds a promise for
cancer therapy [6]. Heptadecanoic acid also known as margaric acid
(C
17:0
),is a representative single–chain saturated fatty acid (OCSFA)
in ruminants. C
17:0
intake is inversely associated with coronary heart
disease [7] type 2 diabetes [8] and multiple sclerosis [9] Therefore,
foods rich in C
17:0
might have the potential to be used in the context
of lung cancer treatment. It has been reported that C
17:0
is abundant
in fat (STF) present in sheep tail [10]. Due to these advantages, the
population of fat–tailed sheep breeds has increased and spread in
Eurasia in the last century. It currently represents a signicant portion
of the global sheep population [2, 11].
There are many studies on the effects of tail cutting in lambs on the
reproductive characteristics and physiological functions of fat–tailed
sheep [12]. Tail cutting has been done by breeders or veterinarians all
throughout history, due to reasons such as lack of feces accumulation
and reducing the risk of myiasis, as well as thoughts on increasing
meat yield, reproduction and carcass meat production in lambs [13].
Apart from this, since fat–tailed sheep are generally bred in rural areas,
coccygeal fractures occur when they are attacked by predatory animals
including (wolves, bears, and pigs), or when coccygeal bone fractures
cannot bear the weight of the bone due to sudden movements during
the attack, or because of tail injuries by predatory animals. Similarly,
coccygeal fractures occur during the ghts of the rams with each
other during the oestrus period of the sheep. While there are many
studies on total tail amputation in lambs in the literature review, total
or partial amputation because of coccygeal fractures or injuries of
fat–tailed sheep and rams has some advantages and disadvantages
and is open to discussion. Therefore, due to the presence of C:17
tail fat, which is a food source for humans, in any of the traumatic
situations listed above, it was believe that partial extirpation of the
tail will increase the value of butchery in the future.
Partial amputation of traumatic coccygeal fractures in sheep, the
choice of surgical technique and anaesthesia should be considered
as a whole to improve the comfort of life, pain control and minimise
possible complications in the operation and postoperative period.
This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of partial
extirpation in coccygeal fractures in adult sheep and rams and to
conclude that this method is a safe technique in clinical practice.
Thus, it is aimed to investigate the operability and success of this
problem, which is frequently encountered clinically, with an easy and
inexpensive method with partial extirpation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Animals
The material of the study consisted of breed Akkaraman, Morkaraman
and their hybrids with a total of 30 coccygeal fractures. 12 of them were
sheep and 18 of them were rams. Age range was 2 ± 1 and live weight
was 50 ± 18 kg. After controlling the physiological values of all animals,
their suitability for the operation was evaluated and the suitable ones
were taken into operation. The causes of coccygeal fracture include
wild animal attacks, interspecies ghts and idiopathic traumas.
Preparation for the operation process and analgesia management
All cases were firstly examined by inspection, palpation and
radiological examination. All animals diagnosed with coccygeal
fracture and evaluated to be suitable for operation were rstly shaved
extensively in the tail area to be operated. (FIG. 1–2).
FIGURE 2. Fat tail with coccygeal fracture FIGURE 3. Local inltration anesthesia application
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for sheep. All animals were monitored before and during the operation,
with pulse (P), respiration (R), body temperature (T), partial saturation
of oxygen (SpO
2
) values and baseline values (only NSAID administered)
at the 5th minute from the start (when sedation and local anesthetic
were administered) at the 15th minute after the start and 30th min
values were recorded (TABLE I).
The area to be operated was prepared in accordance with the rules
of asepsis and antisepsis. In this period, approximately 20 min to
the start of the operation. First, meloxicam at a dose of 0.5mg·kg
-1
(20mg·ml
-1
Boehringer, Metacam, Spain) for pain management
analgesia, administered as a single dose SC [14, 15]. Subsequently,
xylazine 0.1–0.2 mg·kg
-1
IM as a preanesthetic (Rompun 2%, Bayer,
Türkiye [16] and an opioid product, Butarphonal tartart, was
administered IM at a dose of 0.1 mg·kg
-1
(Butomidor, Richter pharma,
Austria [17] Inltration anesthesia 5–10 mL of Lidocaine (Vilcain,
Vilsan, Turkey) was applied to the area where the skin incision was
to be made (FIG. 3).
The animals anesthetized in a standing position, so that both sides are
symmetrical in the selection of the midpoint of the tail and subsequent
skin sutures in the area to be operated. For the post–operative period,
Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid was administered SC once a day for 7 days
at a dose of SynuloxR suspension (7.0 mg Amoxicillin, 1.5 mg Clavulanic
acid·kg
-1
; Zoetis Turkey) according to veterinary prospectus information
TABLE I
Average ndings of animals during monitoring
0 min 5 min 15 min 30 min
Heart rate 98 ± 8 115 ± 12 131 ± 6 97±4
SpO
2
93 ± 4 118 ± 7 103 ± 4 89±7
Respiration 27 ± 2 21 ± 3 18 ± 3 22±3
Temperature 39 ± 1 38 ± 1 38 ± 1 38±1
Physiological values reached normal values in 30 minutes
FIGURE 4. Inverted V incision application
FIGURE 5. Operational processes and healing
Treatment of Coccygeal Fractures in Fatty-Tailed Sheep / Saylak and Çağatay _____________________________________________________
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Surgical procedure
It is incised from dorsal to ventral in an inverted V shape, starting
2–3 cm proximal to the point where the coccygeal fracture is
identied (FIG. 4).
Clinical aspects (wound healing, gait characteristics, compliance
with herd management, productivity) were measured.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This study aimed to investigate the long–term (more than 6 months)
follow–up and feasibility of treatment effectiveness in the partial
extirpation method of coccygeal fractures in fat–tailed sheep and
rams. In this context, a total of 30 Akkaraman crossbred cases (12
sheep and 18 rams) are operated, and long–term follow–up performed.
While the results were evaluated according to the changes in the
yield characteristics of the animals and their adaptation to herd
management, no complications are encountered, and they continued
their normal lives. Since the cases are standing during anaesthesia,
complications (respiration, tympani) encountered in ruminants are not
encountered. During the operation, the application of the inverted V
incision line to be formed in the tail section is easier and more stable
when the case is standing. It is important to start from the midpoint
The reason why the incision was in an inverted V shape was the
continuous expansion of the tail towards the dorsum in fat–tailed
sheep and this incision line was applied to create a perpendicular line
when sutured again. The adipose tissue was taken from the inner part
of the skin by blunt dissection (the fat should be cut deeper to avoid
problems when re–suturing the inverted V–shaped skin part) and the
capillaries between the tail fat were found and ligated. Afterwards,
the skin lips on the remaining part of the partially removed tail were
sutured with simple separate (with silk thread) sutures. Routine
post–operative care and nutrition were recommended (FIG. 5).
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of the median line and cut equal pieces from both sides. Thus, there
is no balance problem in the tail section. French et al [18] and Fisher
[19] reported that tail amputation or partial removal of the tail of
fat–tailed lambs was performed for myasin prevention. In our study,
we did not encounter a similar advantage in terms of performing
operations in adult ewes and rams.
Kridli et al. [20] argued that although it is important to keep the
perianal area clean and free of faecal matter after tail amputations,
it may interfere with the sexual signaling of ewes during estrus and
thus sexual orientation and ram attraction. However, as a result of
long–term follow–up in all cases, similar results are observed in terms
of perianal area cleanliness, while no signs of sexual orientation and
attraction are observed, on the contrary, it is noted that the rams
were more active in vaccination. It is thought that the reduction
of the weight in the hind part of the fat–tailed ewes and rams after
partial tail extirpation helps the rams to perform vaccination, but
more studies are needed on this subject. At the same time, French
et al. [18] and Scobie [21] argued that tail amputations should be
performed more carefully in environments where there are no health
risks such as myiasis in sheep and that welfare concerns arising from
tail amputation should also be taken into consideration. In the present
study, since all operations are performed with animal welfare in mind,
no problems were encountered in the pre– and post–operative period.
Although many studies have shown that tail amputations cause acute
pain in lambs, these methods are a common procedure and are usually
performed by the breeder without pain management [22, 23]. The post
operative pain values of the anesthetic and analgesic agents used in
our study were determined using the facial pain scale developed by
Mclein et al. [24] was used in our study and no additional NSAID agent
was needed since the values were within normal limits in all cases.
The practice of tail amputations differs between regions and
countries and is most commonly performed ischemic by rapid
amputation by surgical excision or by applying a rubber ring, despite
clear evidence that it causes extreme pain [25]. Although these
practices are widely used worldwide, they both argue in favor of the
practice [18] have published studies against them [26]. However,
available data on total or partial extirpation for therapeutic purposes
in fat–tailed sheep of adult sheep and rams are limited in all literature
reviews [27]. Especially in fat–tailed sheep Worldwide, coccygeal
fractures occur for many reasons and osteosynthesis cannot be
performed due to the tail fat carried by the coccygeal bones. If not
intervened, the ventral part, which cannot be fed due to tail fat and
broken hematoma, gangrelates over time, then causes myiasis and
general condition disorder, and as a result, the animal encounters
serious problems due to sepsis or is sent to slaughter by the breeder.
However, no complications are encountered in animals undergoing
partial extirpation. It is an uncomplicated method that can be easily
applied in the practical eld due to its low cost of operation and can
be used easily in the treatment of coccygeal fractures.
CONCLUSIONS
As a result, no complications are encountered when post–operative
pain management and outpatient anesthesia protocol were applied
in the treatment of coccygeal fractures in sheep, which are seen in
large numbers in rural and barren areas.
It is concluded that the operation is completed successfully by
standing sedation and inltration local anesthesia to the area of
the operated with inverted V incision in sheep and rams. We believe
that it is an appropriate surgical treatment method for traumatic
coccygeal fractures in fat–tailed sheep and rams.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study was supported by 2209–A– Projects Support Program
1st semester of 2022. Application number1919B012204211 (TÜBİTAK).
Conicts of interest
The authors have no declaration of competing interests.
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