Correction of neonatal stifle luxation in a 35‐day‐old cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

Abstract

In cases of stifle luxation in birds, surgical repair of the damaged soft tissues may be attempted in larger species and internal fixation is the technique of choice (Bennet 1997, Bowles & Zantop 2002). A 35-day-old Nimphycus hollandicus was presented because of inability to stand (Fig 1A). Medio-cranial luxation of the femoro-tibiotarsal joint was apparent on radiographs (Fig 1B). As the young age of the patient increased the chances of good healing, we decided to correct the problem by immobilising the legs with a semi-rigid foam splint (Fig 2A, B), that was more rigid than the devices used to treat splay-legs (Parrot Parrot 1997), after the luxation had been repositioned under general anaesthesia. Immobilisation of the legs aimed to achieve periarticular fibrosis and stabilise the stifle joint. Weekly physiotherapy under general anaesthesia was performed to avoid ankylosis of the unaffected joints and leg. After 20 days the bird was able to stand with the legs in normal position. With daily physiotherapy, the condition of the bird improved, although walking ability never became fully normal because of ankylosis of the stifle joint (Fig 3A, B). The bird also developed a moderate left pododermatitis that healed in 2 months with topical therapy. No sign of pododermatitis appeared on the right foot despite ankylosis at the stifle joint. This use of semi-rigid foam rubber devices is an effective method to maintain the legs in normal position after stifle luxation reduction, allowing stabilisation of the joint in growing birds belonging to smaller species in which surgical repair of the ligaments tends to be difficult. Marco Luparello Centro Veterinario per Animali Esotici 426 Palermo, Italy Laura Faraci Centro Veterinario per Animali Esotici 426 Palermo, Italy Marco Di Giuseppe Centro Veterinario per Animali Esotici 426 Palermo, Italy Lorenzo Crosta Veterinari Montevecchia 23874 Montevecchia (LC), Italy