Al Wasl Veterinary Clinic, Dubai, United Arab Emirates,
Al Wasl Veterinary Clinic, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
J Avian Med Surg. 2020 Dec;34(4):381-389. doi: 10.1647/1082-6742-34.4.381.
A 4-year-old female ostrich () developed knuckling on its left foot after a traumatic event. Conservative treatment, rest, and traditional splinting methods failed to resolve the gait abnormality or improve mobility. A dynamic multicomponent orthotic shoe was then custom designed and fabricated with an ultra-high-molecular weight, low-pressure polyethylene polymer (St 1000 DIN16972 TG2) to correct the foot malposition. The affected foot and leg were wrapped with soft padding and the orthosis was attached and secured by nylon belts (Nylon PA [polyamide] 6, a semicrystalline polyamide polymer) with self-locking modified wrench straps. The orthosis immediately prevented knuckling and improved ambulation. After 2 weeks, this shoe was replaced with a modified orthotic shoe of lighter weight to improve kinetics and ease of use by the bird. The modified orthosis dramatically improved ambulation and was left attached to the affected leg for 7 more weeks. Thereafter, the bird was able to ambulate comfortably without the aid of the shoe, even though permanent anatomical changes to the affected leg seemed to restrict its speed of locomotion. The ostrich had another unfortunate traumatic event 10 weeks later, the result of which was knuckling on the contralateral (right) foot. After routine medical and supportive care, the orthosis was then applied to the right foot for a period of 9 weeks. During this period the bird was able to ambulate well, despite having to support the bulk of its weight on the previously affected left limb. At the end of 9 weeks, the orthosis was removed, and the bird was able to ambulate without aid, although the bird's speed of locomotion was considerably reduced. After recovery of its leg problems, the ostrich was confined to a relatively small paddock for the rest of its life.
一只 4 岁的雌性鸵鸟（）在遭受创伤性事件后，其左脚出现了屈趾现象。保守治疗、休息和传统的固定方法均未能解决步态异常或改善活动能力。随后，定制设计并制作了一种带有超高分子量、低压聚乙烯聚合物（St 1000 DIN16972 TG2）的动态多组件矫形鞋，以矫正脚部位置异常。用柔软的填充物包裹受影响的脚部和腿部，并用尼龙带（尼龙 PA[聚酰胺]6，一种半结晶聚酰胺聚合物）将矫形器固定并固定，带自锁式改装扳手带。矫形器立即防止了屈趾并改善了步行能力。2 周后，这只鞋被更换为重量更轻的改良矫形鞋，以改善鸟类的运动动力学和易用性。改良后的矫形器极大地改善了步行能力，并且在接下来的 7 周内一直固定在受影响的腿部上。此后，即使受影响的腿部似乎永久性地改变了其运动速度，这只鸵鸟也能在没有鞋子的帮助下舒适地行走。10 周后，这只鸵鸟又遭遇了一次不幸的创伤性事件，导致其对侧（右）脚出现屈趾现象。在进行常规的医疗和支持性护理后，将矫形器应用于右脚，持续了 9 周。在此期间，这只鸟能够很好地行走，尽管它必须将大部分体重支撑在以前受伤的左肢上。9 周结束时，取下矫形器，这只鸟可以在没有帮助的情况下行走，尽管它的行走速度大大降低。腿部问题恢复后，这只鸵鸟余生都被限制在一个相对较小的围场中。
