SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF COMPOUND DIAPHYSEAL FRACTURE OF HUMERUS IN A BLACK KITE (MILVUS MIGRANS)

Abstract

Fracture management in birds is a challenging task due to its low success rate. This is mainly because of the fact that avian bones have thinner, more brittle cortices and have pneumatic bones which are connected to air sacs. A Black Kite (Milvus migrans) was presented with the history of injured left wing due to Manjha/Manja (a sharp kind of kite flying thread) injury. Clinical and radiographic examination identified an open oblique fracture at the mid-diaphyseal area of humerus. Anaesthesia was performed by administering xylazine 5 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly which was followed by ketamine 15 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly. Following the aseptic preparation of surgical site, a 1.5 mm K-wire was inserted in a retrograde manner to fix the fractured bone fragments into apposition. Muscle and skin incisions were closed in standard manner. Post-operatively the wing was immobilised by bandaging. The bird was treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs for five days. The Kite recovered uneventfully.

Keywords

• black kite
• fracture
• humerus
• intramedullary pinning