Broken leg :(

[KarenB]

MiaCarter, I had a concern about the foot. If I let the back toe stay backwards, then the nail interfered with the bend and I thought the nail would jab her, so I pointed all toes the same direction out of the end of the wrap. I hope that doesn't disable her later.

How long should I leave this contraption on her? She is staying on the bottom of the cage under the light, but she hops around to eat. I just gave them a fresh shallow bowl of water/Thrive. I hope she's getting some. It's the only water source in there.

[MiaCarter]

It sounds like she's doing great! As long as she can hop around, that's all that matters. And I'm sure she'll get the thrive if it's the only water source (as long as you're not feeding juicy things like cucumber). That always helps.

For breaks, the ideal is 6 weeks, but you can get away with a bit less -- around 4 weeks in some cases. They have smaller, hollow bones, so they tend to mend quicker than you'd see in a larger animal or human.
It depends on the position of the two bone ends. If they're positioned right up against each other, then it takes less time. But if the bone needs to fill in a gap, it takes longer.

As you do the splint changes, you'll notice that there will come a point when it no longer dangles. That means the bone has filled the gap. Once that happens, it takes about 2-3 weeks for the bone to firm up and solidify. (Obviously, the longer you can immobilize, the better.)

I can usually get away with one or two splint changes per week.

ETA -- I wondered what you'd done about that back toe.
I think you did the right thing. I've wrapped around it before and it's a pain in the you-know-what. Really, chances are that foot/ankle will never work "right" again, so I wouldn't be too worried.
Once the splint comes off, she'll be stiff and it'll take her a while to use it normally - if she ever does use it normally. She may always be rather gimpy on that leg. Immobilization basically locks up the joint. So she'll need to re-stretch all those tendons, etc.
There is a way to stretch that back toe back into position using a band. I just saw photos on one of Sally's links: http://www.mfgouldianfinches.com/Health/ICE.html
So if it's a problem, that's how you could fix it.

[KarenB]

MiaCarter ..........splint changes? Why would I need to change it twice a week? When one has a cast, it stays on for six weeks. Plus, that seems excessive. If it takes, at the earliest, 4 weeks to heal, couldn't I just leave it on for four weeks and then remove it to check? Of course, this is assuming that it does last that long without coming off on its own.

[wildbird]

If the back toe is taped in an abnormal position, pointing forward instead of the normal position, backward, it may cause problems with the other toes. I had a bird with a weak tendon on the back toe. It flipped over & consistantly pointed forward which over time crippled the other toes. My vet recommended cutting the tendon when he was a baby so that it would just point to the rear & be stiff. I wish I had let him do that, as the other toes became distorted because of that one. Yours would not be in that position for as long a time so maybe this won't happen. The ideal position for the toes would be in there normal position.

[MiaCarter]

KarenB --- Sure, you could leave it on as long as it looks good. I don't see why not.
That would actually be ideal, since it's less stress and less messing with the leg.

My guys tended to muck them up pretty quick - every 4-6 days or so (e.g. stepping in food, poop, etc.) I had a little budgie who'd manage to get it in the water so we did almost daily changes (since you can't leave a wet bandage on there.)
Poop was the biggest problem. So in the ones who got it dirty, but kept it pretty dry, I started wrapping a bit extra so I could unwrap a bit and just cut it away when necessary, without changing the entire thing.

I've also had cases where there was a fair amount of swelling and for them, you had to keep changing the splint because as the swelling decreased, it would make it fit loosely.

[KarenB]

Yeah, that totally makes sense if it gets disgustingly dirty or something. So far some seed hulls have stuck to the tape, but I don't care about that. She does have some poop on her butt since she is almost laying on her belly on the bottom, but I have a puppy pad down to help absorb that and cushion her.

[Corkysgirl]

It looks great KarenB! I don't think I would have been able to pull that off! Yes, I definitely want to see how she does after this!

[monotwine]

I would guess from the photos that it was a bad sprain. She should heal up in a week and probably wouldn't need the splint unless it was broken. Its difficult to see on the photos though. You would be the best to make the call if it were a sprain or broke. If you can get her to flex or even give some tension in her toes then it is probably not broken.

I had a hen once that was hanging for a good few hours (from what I could see) from a split band caught on living grass. I got her loose and same as you offered her a smaller cage with comfortable floor / perches and heat. Her leg was useless for a couple of days and I feared the worst, maybe a dislocation high in the "hip". She miraculously with rest regained the full use of her leg and I did not give her anything extra for the leg. It was just a bad sprain. Just rest and quiet did the trick.

I would also be a little concerned about keeping the toes out of normal angles for too long.

Best wishes for your little girl.

[KarenB]

Sigh. I think I am going to remove the wrap tonight and try to shorten the splint so that her toes can be out. When I was splinting it, I was able to see it was indeed broken just in front of the joint, but a clean break. I'm hoping she will regain most of the use. I just really hate to put both of us thru another splinting session, but I think it will be best in the end. She seems to be very strong thru all this. She is still staying under the lamp all day. I will continue Thrive.

[MiaCarter]

KarenB -- That's actually good news that it's broken in front of the joint instead of at the actual joint. Broken joints tend to seize up really easily and they can be chronically painful if the bone reforms in a way that prevents a smooth movement. So wonderful news that it's not the actual joint!

Is the break on the leg above the ankle joint or on the foot below the ankle joint?

If it's below, I might consider leaving it as-is because if you expose the toes more, it would result in more movement which would delay healing (whereas if it's on the leg above the joint, the toes don't matter as much.)

Were you able to ascertain if she has feeling or movement in those toes?
That's another consideration. If she can't feel them or move them, they may be more of a liability if they're exposed. They could get caught up and injured because she doesn't feel them.
Tough to tell in these little ones. In a bigger bird, you'd squeeze a toe and see if they try to pull away. I guess you could do the same here, though tough to squeeze a tiny toe!
If she was moving the toes, then chances are good she can feel them too.

So glad to hear she's doing well! Such a cutie pie.

[Corkysgirl]

Bach Rescue Remedy is really good in situations like this...when you have to stress them. I hope your little girl is on the mend quickly! You can use the pet one or the people one. The people one has alcohol vs. the pet one has vegetable glycerin. The alcohol is minimal if you put drops in water and also evaporates. I always keep this on hand for emergencies...sick, hurt bird/dog, etc. I LOVE it!
http://www.eclectusparrots.net/holistic.html

http://www.holisticbirds.com/pages/bach0501.htm

http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy ... ch-flower/

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=1233

[KarenB]

Last night I unwrapped the burrito and checked the toes. Warm. Back toe still goes back. I removed the straw and wire. I shortened the wire above the ankle and shortened the straw below it. That gives more flexibility at the knee and exposes the back toe. I replaced everything, which I think took twice as long as it did the first time I did it.

I couldn't get the wrap to stay, even using a new piece, so I used a large straw and cut a short piece and used it like a band over the whole thing so it wouldn't come undone. The whole package is less bulky but probably not much less cumbersome. I can't wait until she heals so I can remove all this mess.

The whole time I'm working, the male was intently and probably horrifyingly watching over me. Bless his heart, he's been there for her every moment.

And it appears their one little viable egg is still being well cared for by the societies. I'm not really sure when the the owl hen laid it, so
I'm not sure when it should hatch. Hopefully soon. If it survives, I will be thrilled. Prayers for that little one.

[MiaCarter]

KarenB -- Horray for warm toes! Warm toes are happy toes.

That's sweet about the male. I love it when they have super attentive mates. Just plain adorable!

Hope the little one in the egg makes it! I always love it when they survive despite adversity.

[KarenB]

Corkysgirl, I need to get that stuff. I'll probably order it online, since I get most everything delivered to me these days.

[Corkysgirl]

KarenB, I love it! It saved my bird twice (two different birds) when they were at the bottom of the cage very near death. Not saying it will always do this but it really helps a lot in shock situations. I put it in my birds water...the 10 year and 5 month old male, and did with the old female, every day, just one or two drops. The alcohol evaporates. I think it really gave her longevity. Then when the fledgling had issues eating...for anything that ailes them. Haha, then I take it myself!