Duck: compound fracture in foot, tried to set bone

[Master Cat]

Hi all,

I have a 6 mo. old duck who has a compound fracture in the center of her middle toe. We tried to set the bone last week, and splinted and bandaged it best we could. However, upon unwrapping the foot today, the toe is only slightly less swollen but there is a pea sized hole of missing skin over the injury. We're planning on keeping it wrapped to keep out bacteria. Will the skin heal over on its own?

The duck is feisty and seems otherwise healthy.

Thanks for any help,
Holly in Burnsville NC

 

[Abriana]

Put some neosporin on it, and keep it wrapped to help heal the toe. It will either heal over or she'll have a hole in her toe, but it will be closed up.
I wouldn't worry too much!

 

[Eggcessive]

Pictures are always helpful, and posting on the duck forum here is a good idea:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ducks.42/

 

[Master Cat]

We decided to post some pictures of the bandage we use for bumble foot and for this broken toe situation. We would love some critical feedback!

The materials include:

Hydrogen Peroxide
Neosporin
Plastic Medical Tape
Vetwrap
Semi-Flexible Plastic (yogurt lid, to-go-container, etc.)

This photo is one week after initial injury. The bone is still visible. Last week, the bone was protruding out the skin. We set the bone using significant "finger strength" so that it sunk back into the skin.

We cut the plastic vaguely to the shape of the foot (in this case, we made it two-ply so that it was more rigid for less bone movement). Then we wrapped it with plastic medical tape and put a wad of vetwrap for padding and neosporin on the wound.

We taped the splint onto her foot with two strips of medical tape. We were careful to tape the foot down with the toes spread in a neutral position and not bind the ankle.

Finally, we wrapped the whole foot in vetwrap up past the ankle. She walks and stands like a champion!

 

[rebekah1989]

any updates... i have a similar situation on hand