A Detailed Guide to the Prevention and Treatment of Fractures and Dislocations in Pigs

A crack in a bone caused by the impact of external force is called a bone fissure (also known as incomplete fracture), and a break is called a fracture (also known as complete fracture). When the articular head of a bone leaves the joint socket and cannot return to place on its own, it is called a dislocation. When the two opposing articular surfaces cannot contact each other at all, it is called a complete dislocation; when the two articular surfaces are partially in contact, it is called an incomplete dislocation.

1. Causes Traumatic fractures are caused by various mechanical violent impacts, such as whipping, fierce fighting, falling, jumping, etc. Fractures occur easily in cases of rickets, osteomalacia, and osteomyelitis.

Dislocations often occur due to falling, jumping, or crushing during mating, which cause excessive extension, flexion, abduction, or inward rotation of the joint. In addition, tumors occurring at the joint and bone end, or a large accumulation of inflammatory exudate within the joint, may also cause dislocation. Common sites of dislocation include the shoulder joint, hip joint, knee joint, hock joint, and fetlock joint.

2. Symptoms When a fracture occurs, the sick pig develops lameness, and the affected area shows obvious redness, swelling, heat, and pain. The break can be felt in the affected bone, and when the broken bone moves, a "crack-crack" friction sound is emitted. Rib fractures often cause local redness and swelling. There are bruises under the skin at the injured site. If the broken bone pierces the thoracic muscles, blood entering the chest cavity can induce pleurisy. Excessive internal bleeding often causes sudden death.

Dislocations of the limbs are mostly single-limb. Except for hip joint dislocation, the pig can generally manage to stand on three limbs and move by jumping. With hip joint dislocation, the pig often assumes a sitting-dog posture, dragging the affected limb to crawl, and the direction of the limb axis below the dislocated joint changes. The protruding articular head or joint socket can be felt by touch, and a friction sound is emitted when it is shaken.

3. Prevention and Treatment Mainly strengthen management, such as setting up a mating stand or promoting artificial insemination during mating, and strictly preventing jumping from vehicles during transport. The doors of boar pens must be securely closed to prevent fighting. Treatment is generally of little value. Depending on the condition of the sick pig, it may be culled. When treatment is necessary, reduction is generally performed first, followed by fixation with splints, and external application of any of the following prescriptions.

(1) External application medicines:

① Fresh roots of Laggera alata, Gynura japonica, and Sambucus javanica, all taken fresh, pounded into a paste and applied to the affected area.

② Fresh pine needles and fresh Davallia mariesii, with an appropriate amount of alcohol added, pounded into a paste and applied to the affected area.

③ Fresh Boehmeria nivea root and Hypericum japonicum in appropriate amounts each, with an appropriate amount of white liquor added, pounded into a paste and applied to the affected area.

(2) Decoction for oral administration: Achyranthes bidentata, Angelica sinensis, peach kernel, and Gynura japonica 10 g each; safflower and raw cattail pollen 5 g each (the above is the dosage for pigs weighing 15-26 kg).