Abstract
Traumatic pelvic limb fractures in pet birds are rare and primarily result from trauma. Avian bones are fragile and prone to fragmentation due to various natural and anthropogenic events. This case report describes the diagnosis, anesthesia protocol, surgical management, post-operative care, and remarkable outcome of a right tibial comminuted fracture in a one-year-old hen pigeon (Columba livia domestica). A one-year-old hen pigeon was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Jos, Nigeria, with a broken right pelvic limb after being attacked by a young lad. The attack occurred 30 minutes prior to presentation. Clinical examination revealed extensive tissue damage including an open wound with a complete fracture and bone fragment at the proximal third of the right tibia, accompanied by hemorrhages, tenderness, pale ocular mucous membranes, and lethargy. The impact of the attack was the primary cause of the comminuted fracture. Due to logistical constraints and the patient's critical condition, pre-operative radiographic imaging was not feasible. A definitive diagnosis of right tibial proximal third open comminuted fracture was readily made based on the gross tissue damage. Following standard aseptic protocol, stifle disarticulation was performed under local anesthesia to alleviate the bird's excruciating pain. Local anesthesia was achieved with 10mg lidocaine hydrochloride via local infiltration at the stifle. Due to the bird's critical condition, local anesthesia was preferred over general anesthesia. A 5mm stab skin incision was made distal to the right stifle, followed by blunt dissection of the musculature and disarticulation at the tibiofemoral joint. 5mm musculature distal to the stifle was transected and the skin was routinely sutured with size 3/0 silk suture. Post-operative care included injectable amoxicillin, piroxicam, and iron dextran administration, along with alternative-day wound dressing. Skin sutures were removed eight days post-surgery. The pigeon made a remarkable recovery, regaining balance and flying comfortably. Post-recovery imaging was not feasible as all arrangements made with the client following the bird's recovery ultimately fell through. To our knowledge, this case represents the first reported instance of a comminuted tibial fracture in a pigeon managed with stifle disarticulation. The successful outcome of this case proves stifle disarticulation to be an effective treatment option for complex fractures in birds, underscoring the importance of innovative strategies, prompt surgical intervention and addressing a significant gap in the literature. At the time of this report, the pet bird is currently nesting and brooding its eggs.
Keywords: Hen pigeon, Comminuted tibial fracture, Proximal third, Stifle disarticulation.