ON TREATMENT OF THE PURULENT ARTHRITIS OF THE DISTAL INTERPHALANGEAL JOINT IN BREEDING BOARS AND SOWS BY EXARTICULATION IN THE PROXIMAL INTERPHALANGEAL JOINT

An unilateral exarticulation of the digit was performed in 9 breeding boars and 3 breeding sows, suffering from purulent arthritis in the distal interphalangeal joint (11 cases) or osteomyelitis of phalanx III (1 case). The surgery was performed under Stresnil(R)-Hypnodil(R) sedation, in combination with an intravenous regional anesthesia. Clinical and radiological findings of the 12 pigs and the pathological findings of the exarticulated digits as well as the surgical technique are presented. After an average duration of treatment of 19 days and meanly 2 bandage changes, 11 pigs recovered completely and were returned to their owners. One boar was slaughtered 5 days after surgery due to a traumatic exungulation of the adjoining claw. 11 pigs were followed up postoperatively over a period of 7 months to 6 years. All 8 boars were used for breeding as soon as 1 - 2 weeks after leaving the clinic and showed good results. Postoperative use, the semen quality, number of postoperative parturitions and reasons for slaughtering are described.