Application of locoregional and total intravenous anesthesia in avian orthopedic surgery

Locoregional anesthesia (LRA) is often integrated into multimodal anesthetic protocols, particularly for orthopedic surgery. The use of inhalation anesthesia combined with analgesic drugs is more common in avian clinical practice. However, this method has disadvantages during orthopedic surgery, particularly for fractures of pneumatic bones. To solve these issues, the use of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), possibly combined with LRA techniques, could be applied. As an example of the applicability of these methods in avian species, three clinical cases are presented. An ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block was performed on a goose (Anser anser) undergoing humeral osteosynthesis. A sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) with radius and ulna fracture received a block of the radial, median, and ulnar nerves via direct transcutaneous visualization. A hen (Gallus gallus) undergoing tarsometatarsal amputation was treated with an ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve block. These cases show the potential of LRA in birds, especially using ultrasound-guided or direct visualization techniques, allowing precise localization of nerves and minimizing the risk of complications, e.g. intravascular injections. The use of TIVA proves to be a viable alternative to inhalants, even in birds. Future research studies could explore the replicability of the ultrasound-guided and direct LRA approaches in other species, evaluating species-specific anatomical differences, and investigate the use of other LAs and dosages in the class Aves, along with different TIVA techniques.