The effectiveness of oxytetracycline in the treatment of calves with contracted flexor tendons

TL;DR

This paper evaluates whether oxytetracycline helps calves with contracted flexor tendons walk normally, but finds weak evidence of effectiveness.

Contribution

A critical review of three studies on oxytetracycline's efficacy for treating contracted flexor tendons in calves.

Findings

Oxytetracycline showed slightly better weight-bearing recovery in calves compared to no treatment.

Oxytetracycline infusions had no significant clinical effect on weight bearing.

Evidence is weak due to study limitations and low evidentiary power.

Abstract

PICO question

In neonatal calves with contracted flexor tendons is the use of a 3 day course of oxytetracycline in conjunction with other treatments more effective in returning the hoof to normal full weight bearing on both the toe and heel compared to no oxytetracycline?

Clinical bottom line

Category of research question

Treatment

The number and type of study designs reviewed

Three papers were critically reviewed. One randomised controlled study, one case series and one case study

Strength of evidence

Weak

Outcomes reported

Oxytetracycline as a treatment for contracted flexor tendons in calves was found to be slightly more effective in returning the hoof to normal weight bearing compared to no oxytetracycline. In contrast, oxytetracycline infusions for the treatment of contracted flexor tendons in calves do not have an influence on weight bearing and have no significant clinical effect

Conclusion

There was limited confidence that the estimated effect reported by the studies were close to the true effect, this is due to the studies having a number of limitations as well as the case series / study having limited evidentiary power. There is currently insufficient evidence from the literature to support or reject the use of oxytetracycline in the treatment of contracted flexor tendons in calves. Further studies, with higher strengths of evidence, are required to provide conclusive evidence