Great Blue Heron Laceration Repair
An adult great blue heron was presented to the Cornell University Wildlife Clinic for evaluation of a severe and chronic laceration of the skin between the mandibles. In order for the bird to feed normally, the laceration had to be repaired.
The bird was anesthetized and prepared for surgery. The necrotic tissue was debrided and the laceration was closed with two layers of sutures. Tension releasing sutures were used to hold the sides of the beak in place and to help reduce the tension on the surgical wound. Throughout surgery and during recovery the animal was monitored and its body temperature was maintained using heating pads and bags of warm water. The airway of the heron was cleared at the end of the procedure and the bird recovered uneventfully. Antibiotics were administered to prevent infection. Five days after surgery, a small area of the surgical wound re-opened. A single skin suture placed under local anesthesia was sufficient to close the wound. The bird was transferred to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for continued care and eventual release to the wild.