Ultrasonographic Appearance of Bovine Coxofemoral Luxation in Different Directions

Luxation is relatively infrequent in bovine species because cattle generally have bulky muscle and strong periarticular ligaments and tendons, but cases do occur owing to sudden abnormal stresses in some joints [1]. One of the common sites is the coxofemoral joint, which has anatomic configurations that predispose to luxation. The relatively small head of the femur, minimal attachment of the femoral head to the pelvis, and shallow acetabulum allow the joint to dislocate by significant forces [1]. Falling with the hindlimbs in abduction related to postpartum events or estrus behavior can strain the joint resulting in the head of the femur becoming displaced from its normal position in the acetabulum [1-4]. Four directions of luxation, craniodorsal, caudoventral, caudodorsal, and cranioventral, in order of descending prevalence [1], have been described, but most cases are craniodorsal [1,5,6].