Repair of Compound Tibiotarsus Fracture using Intramedullary Pinning in a Pigeon

Abstract

Tibio-tarsus bone is formed from a union of the tibia and the proximal row of tarsal bones during the embryonic growth (Suryawanshi et al., 2021). The biggest leg bone in birds, the tibiotarsus, is usually twice as long as the femur (Sreeranjini et al., 2013). The mineral content of avian bones is somewhat higher than that of human bones, which leads to an increased incidence of open fractures that are comminuted and include many sharp pieces that can be traumatic to the soft tissues that are surrounding the bone (Kumar et al., 2022). The frequent occurrence of fractures is attributed to the thin skin and comparatively low muscle mass that surround the bone. According to Wright et al. (2018), the mid-diaphyseal section accounts for the majority of tibiotarsal fractures, which account for 53% of cases. The proximal third and distal third of the tibiotarsal diaphysis are the sites of 22% and 13% of fractures, respectively. Wright et al. (2018) claimed that tibiotarsal fractures were frequently caused by a range of circumstances, such as maltreatment by the owner (22%), dropping from a perch (9%), and trauma triggered by an attack by a dog or cat (7%). Nevertheless, the etiology of the tibiotarsal fracture was not specified in 47% of the cases. According to Verma et al. (2018), avian fractures can be the result of either natural events, such as mid-air collisions or scuffles with other birds, or anthropogenic experiences, such as gunshot wounds, collisions with automobiles or fences, entrapment, or attacks by canines or cats. In both captive and untamed birds, bone fractures were a common occurrence. The current report delineates the successful surgical treatment of a compound tibiotarsus fracture in a pigeon through the use of intramedullary fixation with orthopaedic wire.