Contemplating home surgery..

[ChickenGuy]

I have a chick (6 weeks) that has a slipped tendon. I have tried to pop it back into place however the attempts have been unsucessful.

I am left with 2 options, cull the bird, or attempt to open the joint, replace the tendon, and stitch it back up.

The vet, sadly, is not an option. I simplly cannot justify taking a 6 week pullet to the vet.

My figuring is if the surgery seems to not be going well, I can immediatly cull the bird anyhow without proceeding any farther. With that in mind I'm having the "might as well try it" mind set.

I figure I'll need to get a scalpel (from TSC).
Sterilze everything, have some neosporin ready for the dressing, and iodine to prep the leg with before hand.

I'm not sure if I should attempt to aneastasize (spelling) the bird or not. And if I do, what shoudl I do it with? 1/2cc of tequila? a shot of nitrogen oxide from a cool whip can? I'm just not sure. Or maybe I shouldn't use anything at all.

What do you guys think? Any recomendations or suggestions? Also, What is the best thread to use for stitching it all up afterwards?

Just not sure, not sure at all...

 

[AngelzFyre]

Do you have a veterinary school or anything near you? Sometimes they will take cases for their students to learn from etc. and not charge much.
If not, joint surgery at best is very risky without total sterile facilities. If you're going into the joint itself, it would need sterile flushing and sterile sutures as well as antibiotics before, during and after.
If it's a tendon, it still needs total sterile environment to heal up without complications. You sure do not want straight iodine in the area, it will damage the tissues. Betadine diluted as a flush would do in a pinch but most joint surgeries are done with a sterile flush since it's so easy to get septic joints without it.
As far as the anesthesia, I wouldn't even think of doing it without.
The pain is excruciating at best. You really do need to either take it to someone that is experienced with the surgery you want or cull.
Personally I wouldn't put it through the misery of a "home surgery" the way you described.
Just my opinion of course.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

First question that come to my mind is: Is the pullet in any pain currently? Does the condition impede her ability to get around, eat, drink, etc.?

If the answer is yes to one or both questions, then the decision is fairly clear. Euthanize her.

If the answer is no to one or both, then why do anything at all?

Another possible solution might be to splint or cast the leg for a couple of weeks and give the tendon a chance to shorten and heal. You can get plaster bandages many places...including Michaels. You have to put good padding underneath and be CERTAIN that it isn't too tight. She would need to be in the house in a crate for a while.

I think the SPCA would arrest you for doing surgery without anesthetic on her! Even in the best circumstances, joint/tendon surgery is iffy. I'm an RN with experience suturing, assisting with animal surgeries, etc. , but I would not begin to take on this.

 

[Oblio13]

I tried some medical experiments on my little brother once. Mom stopped me before I was able to reach any definitive conclusions about my work.

 

[AngelzFyre]

Probably a good thing, Oblio!

 

[bluey]

I agree with OTG, it's pretty black and white. Attempting some sort of ham-handed meatball surgery seems very extreme and cruel.