Manuflex®—An Alternative Way of Treating Bone Fractures in Zoo and Wild Animals?
Abstract
In a survey of the quality and the clinical use of Manuflex®, an external fixator technique from Hungary (Trade-Coop Trading House for Industrial Cooperative Societies, LTD, Budapest 95 P.O. Box 20 H-1456, Hungary), this cheap and very light fixating method, composed of Kirschner-wire and a perforated aluminum bar, was used in several wild, exotic and companion animals, but especially in birds presenting with comminuted fractures.
The advantages and disadvantages of this fixation device have been judged and compared to other methods,1-13 according to the application facility, the technique, the fixation features, the healing process,14 the acceptance, as well as the restriction of movement for the animals. Over 4 yr, several birds, rodents, cats and smaller dogs have been treated with the external fixation, using the Manuflex®, for fractures of the humerus, radius and ulna, tibiotarsus, metatarsus, and in one case, the lower beak.
The use of the Manuflex® for fracture fixation seems to be very efficient. On one hand, the material is very light and of easy and rapid use. On the other hand, the use of aluminum and Kirschner wires is of low cost. However, during the healing period some of the animals showed complications, such as osteolysis or dislocation of bone fragments, as well as bending and instability or extraction of the fixator (Table 1). In these cases, the stability and efficiency of the fixation with the Manuflex® seemed to depend on the weight and size of the animal or on the age of the fracture at the time of the surgery. Overall, the Manuflex® appeared to be a recommendable alternative in the treatment of fractures of the extremity, especially in birds; but, using larger aluminum bars, also in other animals.
Table 1. Treated bird species, location of the fractures, type of fixation and healing process
|
Species
|
Fracture
|
Fixation with Manuflex®
|
Healing process
|
Result
|
|
Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
|
Humerus ri, diaphysary, oblique; Metatarsus le, splinter
|
ri: type 1-fixator
le: type 2-fixator
|
Both taken off after 8 wk
|
Released
|
|
Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
|
Radius/ulna le, diaphysary, oblique; Head trauma
|
Type 1
|
|
Euthanasia after 2 wk because of central blindness
|
|
Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
|
Humerus le, diaphysary, oblique
|
Type 1
|
Taken off after 8 wk
|
Released
|
|
Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
|
Humerus ri, diaphysary, oblique; Radius/ulna le, diaphysary, splinter
|
ri: type 1
le: type 2
|
|
Exitus 6 h post op.
|
|
Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
|
Metatarsus le, diaphysary, splinter
|
Type 2
|
Sequestration of a splinter, removed, filled up with bovine spongiosa, taken off after 16 wk
|
Released
|
|
Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
|
Radius/Ulna le, diaphysary, splinter
|
Type 1
|
Taken off after 9 wk
|
Released
|
|
Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
|
Radius/Ulna ri, diaphysary, splinter
|
Type 1
|
Refixation because of further splintering and instability, further stabilization with a intramedullary pin on the fixator, taken off after 16 wk
|
Released
|
|
Old World kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
|
Tibiotarsus le, diaphysary, splinter
|
Type 2
|
Taken off after 10 wk
|
Volière
|
|
Barn owl (Tyto alba)
|
Tibiotarsus ri, proximal, oblique; Metatarsus le, diaphysary, splinter
|
ri: type 2
le: type 2
|
ri: taken off after 8 wk
le: taken off after 6 wk
refractured, new fixation, taken off after 8 wk
|
Volière
|
|
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
|
Tibia, malformation after fracture
|
Type 2
|
Not efficient, new fixation, infection of soft tissue
|
Died after 12 wk because of infection
|
|
Goose of Toulouse (Anser anser domesticus toulousiensis)
|
Lower beak fractured and destroyed
|
Type 1(beak contour)
|
Taken off after 10 wk
|
Beak horn regrown badly, eats well
|
|
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
|
Radius/ulna le, diaphysary, oblique; Elbow luxation le
|
Type 1
|
|
Euthanasia after 4 wk, since elbow reluxation
|
|
Fennec fox (Fennecus zerda)
|
Femur diaphysary, splinter
|
Type 1, in combination with intramedullary pin
|
Taken off after
|
Healed
|
|
Chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger)
|
Tibia diaphysary, splinter
|
First intramedullary pin, because of instability Manuflex, type 2
|
|
Euthanasia after 5 wk because of automutilation
|
Abbreviations : le-left; ri-right; hr-hours; post op-post operation.
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