SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF CRANIAL MENINGOCELE IN 4 COW CALVES

CRANIAL MENINGOCELE IN CALVES

Abstract

The study reports the management of congenital cranial meningocele in 4 female cow calves (3 Holstein Friesen crossbred and one indigenous Gir breed). All the calves were presented with the complaint of a soft tissue swelling {with (2 calves) or without hairy skin (2 calves)} in the cranium bones. Radiography in one calf revealed a gap in the frontal suture. While, echocardiography revealed atrial septal defect in one calf. Out of 4, 3 were surgically operated under local infiltration and diazepam + ketamine injectable anaesthesia. The one Holstein Friesen crossbred calf with a small non-cystic soft tissue swelling and no hairy skin covering was not operated but recovered completely on follow up. Out of the other 3 calves operated, one completely recovered (HF crossbred with Atrial septal defect) while one (Sahiwal) showed circling nervous signs in post-operative period but recovered with medicines, and the third calf showed blindness and circling after 7 days of surgery and did not respond to treatment. It was concluded that cystic cranial meningocele should be surgically resected while small non-cystic cranial meningocele without skin covering can be left as such for healing.