Surgical correction of bilateral compound mandibular fracture in a 7-day-old calf by acrylic external skeletal fixation

A seven-day-old neonatal calf was presented to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Veterinary College Hebbal, Bengaluru, with a history of mandibular trauma due to improper handling of the lower jaw with an eye hook during dystocia. On physical examination revealed dropped lower jaw, drooling of saliva, functional impairment and fractured ends were seen at horizontal ramus of mandible. Based on clinical findings case was tentatively diagnosed as compound bilateral mandibular fracture and decided for surgical correction. Animal was restrained in lateral recumbency and sedated with Xylazine Hcl and Mandibular nerve block with 2% lignocaine along the length of mandible. Fractured fragments were reduced and stabilized with transcortical end threaded pins and anchored to a custom-molded acrylic external bar using endotracheal tube, creating a rigid external skeletal fixator that provided robust coaptation. Sixty days post-operatively, the animal showed uneventful recovery with full resumption of normal feed intake.