Management Plan:

There are several possibilities depending on how much money the owner wants to spend.

The calf could return to the farm and be castrated and raised for slaughter.  Without further medical treatment the calf will not be suitable for breeding because he will not be sound enough.  Bulls are larger than steers and need adequate musculoskeletal function in order to service cows.  As a castrated steer the fracture may heal enough for him to ambulate and eat  for the next year.  Even in this scenario the calf needs ceftiofur to eliminate the infection and allow the bone proceed with healing.  (There is no meat withdrawl with ceftiofur use). Since osteomyelitis is likely present in this case even with antibiotics  the fracture may never heal.  This option does not offer the best prognosis for the calf but if economical constraints are an issue this scenario may allow the farmer to recover his costs.

If the farmer wants to pursue use of this calf at all costs it may be possible to preserve his ability to function as a breeding bull.  In this case surgery is necessary.  The hypertrophic bone at the fracture ends will be removed, the fracture will be aligned and the fracture will be plated with a neutral plate.  The ends of the bone and the entire wound will be lavaged with ceftiofur and saline.  After plating and closure of the surgical incision the leg will be casted for added support.  The animal will be placed on IV ceftiofur.  In two weeks the cast will be removed and the limb will be radiographed.  If any bowing of the bone is noticed at this point the plate will need to be removed.  If there is still no union present at this point the fracture will need to be replated.  The cast will be replaced every two weeks and radiographs will be taken to determine the degree of healing of the fracture.  Casting can be stopped when the fracture is fully healed and stable.  The calf will still need to be confined for another month to allow further strengthening of the bone.  When the calf is sent home he will be placed on IM ceftiofur for a total duration of at least six weeks.  If the farmer does not want to pursue surgery he may opt for the antibiotics and casting alone but this will have a decreased prognosis for the intended use compared to surgical plating.  

Prognosis:

For the first scenario the prognosis is good for use as a commercial steer.
For the second scenario the prognosis is fair for use as a breeding bull.