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Broken back leg

Joined Jun 2015
4 Posts | 0+
NC
Hey guys, I'm a fawn rehabber in North Carolina and I could use some advice. I received a young fawn about two weeks ago with a clean break in the back leg. She was unable to stand at all and we were starting to think there was more damage to her back end then we originally thought. We had the leg set, and it stayed wrapped for about 5-6 days. Because she was immobile and the bandages were becoming soiled, we removed them. Now, after almost two weeks of not being able to get up, she is up and moving (she has been up and walking for three days now and improving every day)! She does put weight on the bad leg, but not much. Now, my question involves the healing. The bone did not stay set long enough and is now very swollen and you can actually see where the bone is. I have attached some pictures. Hopefully someone can help :) 
 

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Leslie, MOST of the time the leg is better left alone and not put in a cast, or even a wrap for the very reason you stated, and because of rubbing. Place the fawn in a small space where it cannot move much, maybe 4X5 feet in size. Keep it calm. The leg will heal in as little as three weeks. 


 


IF the bone is bad out of line you may have to wrap it or cast it to keep the bone aligned. But only as a last resort. Still two weeks should get the healing started and the wrap can come off. 
 
they will develop a callous around the break very quickly, you can feel it,  I would leave it alone at this point.
 
Because she is up and active now, I take her outside for about 10 minutes or so to strengthen her muscles about 2-3 times a day, would that not be better for her than trying to keep her in a smaller confined area?
 
It won't hurt to keep her confined for two weeks to give that bone time to start a good heal. Continued use and movement of the leg is counterproductive to it healing quickly.
 
I'd leave alone as well.. We tried to save the leg on a buck fawn last year instead of amputating it and ended up loosing him, but yours looks much older than my case.  Personally in the future I'll try to leave alone or amputate and be done with it.