Femoral nerve paralysis in cattle sign
Reading File
Finding Sources
Searching the Web
femoral nerve paralysis cattle signs clinical symptoms
Finding Sources
Reading Web Page
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/musculoskeletal-system/lameness…
Here is a complete summary of Femoral Nerve Paralysis in Cattle - its signs, causes, and key clinical features:
Femoral Nerve Paralysis in Cattle
Anatomy Basis
The femoral nerve (L4-L6) innervates the quadriceps femoris muscle group (which extends the stifle joint) and partially innervates the psoas major (hip flexor). Damage to this nerve disrupts stifle extension and weight-bearing ability.
Etiology / Cause
- Most common in large, newborn calves (e.g., Charolais, Simmental) after difficult/assisted births with mechanical traction - especially when the calf becomes hip-locked in anterior presentation
- Excessive pulling force stretches and damages the femoral nerve
- Rarely seen in adult cows
Clinical Signs
| Sign | Description |
|---|---|
| Inability to extend the stifle | The hallmark sign - the calf cannot lock the stifle joint to bear weight |
| Inability to bear weight | Affected limb(s) collapse when weight is placed on them |
| Dropped/flexed stifle | Stifle buckles forward, the limb folds under the animal |
| Lateral patellar luxation | Reduced quadriceps tone causes the patella to displace laterally; it can be manually reduced easily but recurs |
| Absent patellar (patella) reflex | The patellar reflex is entirely absent (requires an intact femoral nerve and quadriceps) - diagnostically important |
| Quadriceps atrophy | Rapid, obvious atrophy of the quadriceps muscle group within 7-10 days |
| "Dog-sitting" posture | In bilateral femoral paralysis, calves are unable to stand and sit in a dog-sitting posture with hind limbs extended forward |
| Pelvic tilt | In unilateral cases, the pelvis tilts noticeably toward the affected side |
| Hip flexion difficulty | Partial psoas major involvement limits hip flexion on the affected side |
Unilateral vs. Bilateral
- Unilateral: Calf can attempt to rise but has great difficulty; pelvis is tilted toward the affected side; prognosis is better
- Bilateral: Calf is completely unable to stand; adopts a characteristic dog-sitting posture; prognosis is guarded to poor
Differentiating from Other Nerve Paralyses
| Feature | Femoral | Sciatic | Obturator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key deficit | Stifle extension | Fetlock knuckling + dropped hock | Adduction (limbs splay) |
| Patellar reflex | Absent | Prominent (increased) | Normal |
| Quadriceps atrophy | Yes (rapid) | No | No |
| Posture | Dog-sitting (bilateral) | Knuckled fetlock | Splay-legged ("doing splits") |
| Timing | Birth trauma | Birth trauma | Birth trauma |
Diagnosis
- Based on history (difficult assisted delivery) + clinical signs
- Absent patellar reflex is the key diagnostic finding
- Radiographs recommended to rule out slipped capital femoral physis or proximal femoral fractures (can appear clinically similar before neurogenic atrophy develops)
Treatment & Prognosis
- Maintain in a well-bedded area (sand stall is ideal) to prevent pressure sores
- Ensure adequate colostrum intake (calf may be unable to suckle unaided)
- Anti-inflammatory drugs: dexamethasone (0.05 mg/kg IM q 1-2 days) or flunixin meglumine (1 mg/kg IM q 12h) to reduce perineural swelling
- Prognosis is fair to good in unilateral cases if managed promptly; guarded to poor in bilateral cases
- No improvement within 5-7 days indicates poor prognosis
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.