Byeong Han Lee
Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, South Korea
Title: A case of surgical repair of fracture of the tibia in a common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
Biography
Biography: Byeong Han Lee
Abstract
The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a small new world primate that is native to Brazil. In this report, we present our diagnosis and treatment experiences about the occurrence of fracture of the tibia in a marmoset. A female common marmoset, weighing 220 g, 10 months old, was found out to be caught the right hind limb in a cage wire mesh. After released the leg from the cage, the animal showed swelling of the hock joint. Orthopedic examination and micro computed tomography (CT) revealed closed complete transverse fracture of the distal tibia and flex of the fibula near the tarsocrural joint. Out team did not consider an amputation of the leg for improving the quality of her life. A closed reduction was firstly tried, and then a Gibson bandage was applied for stabilizing the fracture of the tibia. However the marmoset showed swelling and shearing injury of digits after several days. The Gibson bandage was removed, and a wet wound was also found out at the hock joint. We tried to treat the wound of the digits and the hock joint for 7 days. The lower limb was examined and almost not shown function. We finally tried to perform repairing this fracture using two single pins (OD 0.9 mm) between the distal tibia and the tarsal bones obliquely with the joint at 45 degrees and tying a 3-0 nylon suture between the screws placed at the distal tibia and the talus both laterally, to mimic the component of the ligament complex in a normal standing angle. A splint with aluminum plate was applied to stabilize the fracture leg during two months. We are currently observing the development of the bone fusion and estimating the proper time of the removal of pin whenever CT scan is performed regularly.