Non-surgical Management of Uterine Torsion in  Goat: A Report of Five Cases

Uterine Torsion is defined as the rotation of uterus on its longitudinal axis. It is most prevalent in cattle and buffalo with occasional occurrence in bitches, queens, ewes, does and mares and rarely found in sow (Roberts, 1986). The disorder is mostly associated with late first stage or early second stage of parturition. The limited access pertaining to trans-rectal and trans-vaginal examination in small ruminants pose a challenge in diagnosis of the condition (Sharun and Erdogan, 2019). The management of condition involves laparohysterotomy. The efficacy of Modified Schaffer’s Method in correcting uterine torsion is supported by evidence from several studies. Balasubramanian et al., (2013); Biswal et al., (2015); Sharma et al., (2018); Chahar et al., (2018) and Ramteke et al., (2023) have all reported successful outcomes using this approach. These findings underscore the reliability and competence of Modified Schaffer’s Method as a non-surgical intervention for uterine torsion in goats.

The study entails an analysis of five cases of dystocia presented at the Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Upon trans-vaginal examination, uterine torsion was identified as the underlying cause of dystocia. The corrective approach employed in each case involved the application of Modified Schaffer’s Method, also known as the Plank on Flank technique, utilizing a flank measuring 6" × 7" × 1".
       
Prior to the correction procedure, meticulous stabilization protocols were implemented. This included the administration of antibiotics, analgesics, corticosteroids and intravenous infusions, tailored to the individual condition of each goat. The aim was to establish a stable physiological environment conducive to the corrective intervention. The correction process itself involved the execution of repeated rolls towards the side of the torsion, with the number of rolls determined by the severity of the torsion. Notably, the intervention protocol adhered to a strict limit of three rolls per case to mitigate the risk of iatrogenic complications.Following each roll, a comprehensive trans-vaginal examination was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the corrective maneuvers and to assess any incremental improvements in uterine alignment. Subsequent to successful correction, obstetrical mutation techniques were employed, facilitating the manual removal of the fetus in accordance with established principles governing dystocia management.
 
Clinical gynaecological observations
 
All the cases presented after detailed anamnesis were examined for clinical signs and followed by gynaecological examination. The detailed data has been tabulated in Table 1.
 

Detorsion using the non-surgical approach of Modified Schaffer’s Method proved successful, without any exception in the management of uterine torsion. 40% of the cases required obstetrical mutations. 80% of cases were associated with singleton pregnancy and the fetus was stillborn in all such pregnancies. One doe had a triplet pregnancy, which delivered two live males and one stillborn female. Table 2 summarizes the outcome of the detorsion.
 

       
Modified Schaffer’s method as described in bovines (Ghuman, 2010; Ghosh et al., 2013; Sutaria et al., 2015; Deka et al., 2022) and small ruminants (Balasubramanian et al., 2013; Biswal et al., 2015; Sharma et al., 2018; Chahar, 2018; Ramteke et al., 2023); was opted for correction of uterine torsion. Besides modified schaffer’s method, laparohysterectomy (Shukla et al., 2007), swing rotation technique (Prabharan et al., 2021) is also used for managing the condition. Diagnosing uterine torsion in small ruminants presents challenges due to limited accessibility for thorough examinations such as trans-vaginal and trans-rectal assessments (Sharun and Erdogan, 2019). While transabdominal ultrasonography has been utilized, it does not consistently confirm the condition (Wehrend et al., 2002). Research by Baria et al., (2023) indicates that in goats, uterine torsion typically occurs on the right side and involves the post-cervical region. Moreover, the majority of torsion cases in goats involve singleton pregnancies with multiple parities.

It can be concluded that modified schaffer’s method can be effectively used to manage uterine torsion with 100% efficacy. The efficacy of managing uterine torsion through the Modified Schaffer’s Method is unequivocally demonstrated by its consistent success rate of 100%. This non-surgical approach has proven to be highly effective, providing a reliable solution for this challenging obstetric condition. By effectively resolving torsion without resorting to surgery, the Modified Schaffer’s Method offers a safer and less invasive alternative for both veterinary practitioners and dam.
       
In peroration, the Modified Schaffer’s Method stands as a highly effective and reliable approach for managing uterine torsion, offering a non-surgical alternative with a remarkable success rate Its proven efficacy, adaptability and safety make it an indispensable tool in the veterinary arsenal for addressing this challenging obstetric complication.

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.