engleski

Surgical management of a femur fracture in an Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) – a case report

A six-month old male Inland Bearded Dragon weighing 170 grams was presented with a dysfunction of right hind leg two days after it fell from the terrarium. Radiographic imaging showed a transverse fracture line in the middle third of the right femur diaphysis. The distal fragment was dislocated laterally and proximally. With the owner’s compliance, a decision was made to surgically repair the fracture. Surgery was performed under general inhalation anaesthesia with premedication given intramuscularly. A combination of medetomidine 100 mcg/kg, ketamine 4 mg/kg and midazolam 1 mg/kg was used. The anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane 4% in oxygen delivered at 3 L/min via a face mask. The patient was administered a single preoperative dose of ampicilin at 15 mg/kg i/m. It was then placed on the surgical table heated with a convective warmer and the operating field was aseptically prepared for surgery. A lateral approach to the femur was made and 1.0 mm Kirschner wire was retrogradely introduced into the proximal bone fragment. After repositioning the fragments, the wire was advanced distally until stability was achieved. The fascia was sutured with polyglyconate 4-0 in a simple continuous pattern, and skin closure was done using nylon 3-0 in a single interrupted pattern. Postoperative analgesia was provided with meloxicam at 0, 2 mg/kg i/m. Available postoperative x-rays showed good alignment and proper intramedullar pin position. A control radiograph was done 10 weeks after surgery showing rich callus formation around the fracture line.

bearded dragon, femur fracture, osteosynthesis

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