Surgical Correction of Traumatic Tarsocrural Joint Luxation in a Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus).

A 3.4 kg 6-month-old entire female Belgian hare (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was referred after confirmed traumatic event which resulted in non-weight-bearing left pelvic limb lameness. Orthogonal radiographs of the leg confirmed the tarsocrural luxation with dorsocranial displacement of the trochlea of the astragalus (talus) not contacting the calcaneus. The medial long collateral ligament was severed, and the joint capsule was severely damaged. The medial short collateral ligament was intact. The joint capsule and the long collateral ligament were sutured. Transosseous tunnels were created where the medial long collateral ligament originates (medial malleolus) and inserts (talus), and a nylon suture was passed through them in a figure-of-eight pattern in order to replace the function of the damaged ligament. External coaptation during surgical healing was provided using a Robert-Jones bandage replaced by a fiberglass cast after 3 weeks. Complete joint functional recovery was observed 8 weeks after surgery. Orthopaedic abnormalities were not detected for at least 18 months after surgery. The present case confirms the feasibility of medial long collateral ligament reconstruction and capsulorhexis combined with external coaptation as a successful therapeutic option in the management of tibiotarsal joint luxations in rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]