North American Crane Working Group
Date of this Version
1997
Document Type
Article
Citation
PROC. NORTH AM. CRANE WORKSHOP 7:232-236
Abstract
A 65-day-old, juvenile Mississippi sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pulla) sustained an oblique fracture of the right middiaphyseal femur. Internal fixation by use of an intramedullary pin and full cerclage wire was performed to stabilize the fracture site. Post-operative medical management of these fractures is often unsuccessful due to secondary complications associated with long-term restraint. This report describes the successful recovery of an endangered sandhill crane with a long bone fracture of the pelvic limb through a program of incremental physical therapy beginning 2 weeks post-femoral fracture repair. Sling support, assisted walking, and hydrotherapy were methods effective in preventing muscle atrophy during bone healing.
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Comments
Used by permission of the North American Crane Working Group.