Surgical Stabilisation of a Coxofemoral Luxation in a Northern Goshawk (Accipter gentilis) with Transarticular Pinning

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In hawks, luxation occurs infrequently compared with other orthopedic conditions. In this case, a northern goshawk was diagnosed with a luxation of the hip joint after an unsuccessful hunting flight. A surgical treatment of the luxation with an open reduction and transarticular pinning was performed. After healing and implant removal, the hawk could be successfully used for hunting again. The anatomical conditions of the hip joint and the advantages and disadvantages of a transarticular stabilization of this joint in the goshawk are discussed. ABSTRACT: A 3-year-old male northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) used in falconry for hunting was diagnosed with a craniodorsal coxofemoral luxation of the left leg after an unsuccessful hunting flight. Closed reduction in the dislocation was unsuccessful and the hip joint reluxed again with slight abduction of the limb. An open surgical reduction with a transarticular stabilization using a normogradely inserted Kirschner wire was performed. The implant was removed surgically after five weeks. After about seven weeks, the owner saw no abnormalities in the loading of the limbs, and the goshawk was successfully used for hunting after nine months in the next hunting season.