Ultrasound therapy for the prevention and correction of contractures and bone mineral loss associated with wing bandaging in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia)

Figure-of-eight wing bandaging is widely used to treat wing injuries, to im mobilize wings before and after fracture repair, and during transient wing paralysis. However, prolonged bandaging can lead to bone loss and to contra ctures and reduced range of joint motion. Studies evaluating the efficacy o f therapeutic ultrasound to reverse and prevent bandaging-associated contra ctures in pigeons (Columba livia) showed a significant increase in elbow an d carpal extension after 10 twice weekly ultrasound treatments when started either 4 or 11 days after bandage placement. In addition, after 42 days of wing bandaging, three ultrasound treatments stimulated a faster reversal o f carpal wing rotation loss than removal of the bandage over the 10-day tre atment period. Finally, bone loss in response to 28 days of bandaging was s ignificant, progressed at 2.8% per week, and was not affected by ultrasound treatment twice weekly during this period. Therefore, therapeutic ultrasou nd prevented and reversed loss of wing extension associated with figure-of- eight bandaging but did nor lessen the disuse osteoporosis created by banda ging in these birds.