title: Treatment of tarsal joint deformities with hinged transarticular external fixators in three young birds.
abstract: Pelvic limb deformities are common in many avian species. Three young birds, including a six-week-old Cockatoo and two three-month-old goslings, were presented with tarsal joint deformities. They were treated with an experimental prototype of a hinged linear external fixator, placed in a transarticular fashion, in order to maintain joint function during treatment. All birds had close to normal leg function at six to ten weeks postoperatively. These results suggest that the hinged external fixator may be a viable treatment option for tarsal joint deformities in young birds.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. sidava@yahoo.com
authors.forename: V C M
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: C R A
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ferrigno
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isaza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: J F X
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wellehan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D001717:Birds; D046410:Cockatoos; D004867:Equipment Design; D016267:External Fixators / Q000662:veterinary; D005777:Geese; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013640:Tarsal Joints / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome