TIBIOTARSAL FRACTURE REPAIR IN A BALD EAGLE (HALIAEETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS) USING AN INTERLOCKING NAIL

• Published in: Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 77 - 81
• Main Authors: Hollamby, Simon, Dejardin, Loic M, Sikarskie, James G, Haeger, Jennifer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 01-03-2004
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic; Animals; bald eagle; Bending; Birds of prey; Bone fractures; Bone Nails - classification; Bone Nails - veterinary; Bone Screws - veterinary; Bones; Case Reports; Dogs; Eagles; Eagles - injuries; Femoral fractures; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary - instrumentation; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary - methods; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary - veterinary; Fracture Healing; Fractures, Comminuted - surgery; Fractures, Comminuted - veterinary; Fractures, Open - surgery; Fractures, Open - veterinary; Haliaeetus leucocephalus; Interlocking nail; Open fractures; rehabilitation; Tarsal Joints - injuries; Tarsal Joints - surgery; Tibial fractures; Tibial Fractures - surgery; Tibial Fractures - veterinary; Treatment Outcome; Wound dressings
• ISSN: 1042-7260; 1937-2825
• DOI: 10.1638/02-086

A 14-yr-old, 5.13-kg bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was hit by a car and presented to the Michigan State University Small Animal Clinic with an open, grade II, transverse, midshaft, Winquist–Hansen type-II–comminuted left tibiotarsal fracture. The fracture was reduced and fixation established with a 4.7-mm-diameter, 112-mm-long, four-hole veterinary intramedullary interlocking nail maintained in position by single 2-mm transcortical screws placed in the main proximal and distal fragments. The bird was weight bearing on the bandaged limb 48 hr postoperatively. Radiographs obtained 4 wk postoperatively revealed bridging callus over three of four cortices. The bird was released after 5 mo of rehabilitation.