Peroneal Nerve Paralysis in Animals

Peroneal nerve paralysis is observed in cattle confined in stanchions with their hindquarters positioned over the edge of a gutter.

Peroneal nerve paralysis occurs most often in cows suffering from dystocia or milk fever, which struggle to rise, leading to injury or trauma to the peroneal nerve as it passes over the dorsolateral condyle of the tibia and fibula.

Symptoms

• Injury to the peroneal or fibular nerve results inparalysis.
• Anesthesia of the cranial surface of the fetlock and metatarsus, and
• Paralysis of the muscles that extend the digit and flex the hock, namely the long and lateral digital extensors, the peroneus tertius and the anterior tibial muscles.
• Knuckling of the fetlock.
• Dropping of the hock.
• Difficulty in rising, standing and walking.
• Peroneal paralysis should be differentiated from rupture of the gastrocnemius muscle and posterior paresis due to lesions in the spinal cord.

Treatment

• Good nursing care
• Close confinement
• A rigid supporting bandage to the lower leg may prevent knuckling of the fetlock