Surgical Repair of Salter-Harris Type II Fracture of Distal Femur in a Golden Jackal (Canis aureus)
12th International Aegean Congress on Natural & Medical Sciences, İzmir, Türkiye, 25 - 26 Şubat 2026, ss.213-218, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: İzmir
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.213-218
- Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a medium-sized wild canid species that has recently expanded its range across southeastern Europe and Anatolia. Increasing urbanization and habitat fragmentation have led to more frequent vehicle–wildlife collisions, resulting in a higher incidence of traumatic injuries among wild carnivores. Despite this, clinical data regarding the surgical management and rehabilitation of golden jackals are scarce in the veterinary literature. This case report aims to describe the clinical findings, surgical stabilization, and rehabilitation process of a golden jackal with a distal femoral fracture, thereby contributing to the understanding of orthopaedic trauma management in this species. A juvenile golden jackal was found injured near a main road and brought to our wildlife unit. Physical examination revealed non-weight-bearing lameness of the left hindlimb and abrasions around the stifle joint. Radiographic evaluation confirmed a Salter–Harris Type II fracture of the left distal femur. The fracture was surgically stabilized using two 1.5 mm crossed intramedullary Kirschner wires under general anaesthesia. Postoperative care included analgesic and antibiotic administration, movement restriction for seven days, and subsequent gradual physiotherapy. Progressive weight-bearing was observed by the third postoperative week. Radiographic follow-up demonstrated proper bone union. The jackal regained full mobility and was successfully released back into its natural habitat on postoperative day 40. Intramedullary cross-pinning effectively stabilizes distal femoral fractures in golden jackals, highlighting the importance of early orthopaedic intervention and species-specific postoperative care in wildlife medicine.