Claw Lesions, Diseases, and Manifestations

Interdigital Hyperplasia

Description: Interdigital hyperplasia is a firm, tumor-like mass located in the interdigital space. It is not common, except in certain breeds (eg, Herefords, in which it is considered to be heritable).In heavy beef breeds, the condition is thought to result from stretching of the insertions of the distal interphalangeal ligament. The claws splay, and the interdigital skin is stretched. When not involved in weight bearing, the skin folds outward and subcutaneous scar tissue develops. In these cases, the mass tends to develop in the axis of the interdigital space. The mass may become so large that it touches the ground and may become necrotic. In dairy cows, in which the feet are continually exposed to slurry, chronic irritation or dermatitis in the interdigital region is seen, which accounts for the development of masses close to the skin line on the dorsal commisure of the space.

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http://www.vetmanual.org/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/90531.htm