Surgical management of digital gryposis syndrome in a goshawk (Accipiter gentilis gentilis)

Digital gryposis syndrome is an acquired abnormal curvature of the digits due to an unknown etiology. Past medical therapeutic efforts have had limited success, with occasional reports of spontaneous recoveries. Unilateral digital flexor tendon hypertension was identified as the cause of the presenting signs in the goshawk reported in this paper. Tenectomy was performed on the flexor perforatus digiti III, flexor perforans et perforatus digiti III, and flexor perforatus digiti IV tendons. A foot cast fashioned from elastic bandaging tape, epoxy, and aluminum wire was applied for 4 weeks. Fourteen weeks after the operation, the goshawk exhibited a normal stance and good coordination.