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9 December 2019 Distraction Osteogenesis in Two Wild Raptors
Irene Bueno, Gregory Anderson, Michelle Willette, Patrick T. Redig, Julia Ponder
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Abstract

Distraction osteogenesis was used in 2 wild raptor patients for the repair of tibiotarsal fractures. The first case was a hatching year female peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) admitted with an open oblique right distal tibiotarsal fracture. The fracture was surgically managed with the external skeletal fixator intramedullary pin tie-in technique (ESF-IM pin tie-in). Appropriate healing of the fracture site occurred with the ESF-IM pin tie-in. However, there was significant pelvic limb shortening of the affected leg, and the bird consequently developed pododermatitis on the contralateral foot. The second case was an adult female great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) that was admitted with a closed, partially healed, overriding right tibiotarsal fracture. Because of the advanced stage of this fracture, which presented with a fibrous callus, and the already apparent pelvic limb shortening, the ESF-IM pin tie-in was not used. Both patients were fitted with a circular external skeletal fixator (CESF), and distraction osteogenesis was performed until the length of the pelvic limb was deemed anatomically adequate. It is critical that rehabilitated raptors be released without any physical conditions that may reduce their ability to survive and reproduce in the wild. Pelvic limb shortening can potentially predispose a raptor patient to pododermatitis, even with fatal consequences, in both captive and wild environments. The orthopedic technique used here proved useful to repair the limb shortening in both raptor cases, and each bird fully recovered and was released.

© 2019 by the Association of Avian Veterinarians
Irene Bueno, Gregory Anderson, Michelle Willette, Patrick T. Redig, and Julia Ponder "Distraction Osteogenesis in Two Wild Raptors," Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 33(4), 427-436, (9 December 2019). https://doi.org/10.1647/2018-384
Published: 9 December 2019
KEYWORDS
Avian
Bubo virginianus
CESF
circular external skeletal fixator
Distraction osteogenesis
Falco peregrinus
great horned owl
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