A Successful Surgical Approach for Treatment of the Spastic Paresis in two Calves

muscular disease which affects the hind limb in young cattle (Baird et al., 1974; Harper, 1993). It is recorded in Holstein, Freisian and other breeds (Baird et al., 1974; Harper, 1993). This disease resulted from the contraction of the gastrocnemius and superficial flexor digital muscles and in some cases, the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, quadriceps and abductor muscles (Windsor and Agerholm, 2009). The involvement of the quadricieps in this disease is not confirmed (Caroline et al., 2013). The contraction of the aforementioned muscles resulted in extension of the stifle and hock joints. It is considered a heritable disease. Inheritance may be a result of multiple recessive genes (Ducharme, 2004). There are several surgical methods for treatment of the spastic paresis. The partial tibial neurectomy is one of them but this technique is invasive, somewhat difficult at its implementation and needs electrostimulation to verify the denervation of the gastrocnemius muscles. A slight chance of recurrence occurs due to missing of some branches during surgery or due to reinnervation occurred. Complications after the procedure are rare but may lead to dropped hock and ruptured gastrocnemius tendon (Ducharme, 2004). In the period from January, 2007 to December, 2012, only two calves (1 male, 4 months of age and 1 female, 2 months of age) were admitted to the surgery department at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. The calves had unilateral left hind limb lameness. This lameness was characterized by lifting up of the affected limb above the ground (Figs. 1and 2). The affected limb appeared shorter and with backward movement resembling the pendulum, in addition to the hyperextension of its stifle, hock and fetlock joints. The angle of the tarsal joint increased explicitly than normal.