Intas Polivet (2010) Vol.

11 (II): 402-403 Short Communication

Traumatic Punctured Wound of the Crop in Pigeon

(Columba livia) Two Case Reports
K. Mohd. Arif Basha, B.N. Vishal, V. Mahesh and L. Ranganath
Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology
Veterinary College
Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University
Hebbal, Bangalore - 560 024 (Karnataka)

Introduction Case-1
Avian crop is an anterior chamber that precedes
the proventriculus and gizzard and has been
thought to perform primary function of food
storage. When the crop is full of food, it is often
susceptible for trauma. Penetrating wounds can
result in formation of fistula in the crop. Such
wounds are often the result of animal bites,
improperly assisted feeding technique, foreign
A B
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body indigestion, trauma and excessively hot food Fig.1: Injured crop before (A) and after (B)
items. Crop fistulae occur most commonly when
Case-2
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neonates are hand fed. The crop of the neonates

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is more fragile and susceptible to injury than the

adult ingluvies (Harrison, 1987). A B
History
Case 1: A pigeon of about 10 months of age was
presented with history of crop injury due to fight
among birds and also discharging ragi grain
mixed contents from the damaged crop while
feeding. Examination confirmed punctured
wound of the crop.

Case 2: A young pigeon of about 4 months of

age was presented with a history of crop injury
due to a cat bite and ragi grains and bengal grams
were visible in and around the damaged crop.
Also there was a lacerated wound proximal to
the perforated crop but no internal damage was
found.
Treatment
Feathers were plucked manually around the site
of wound. The area was thoroughly cleaned with
warm normal saline and ruptured crop was
prepared for reconstruction.
Case 1: The ruptured crop edges were freshened
and closed by using no.2-0 chromic catgut with
two layers of inverting pattern. Crop was
adequately inflated with air before skin closure
Fig. 2 : Crop injury before (A) and after
surgery (B)
to check for any leakage. Skin was apposed
using Polyamide no 2-0 by simple interrupted
pattern (Fig. 1).
Case 2: Crop was closed by using no.2-0 chromic
catgut with first layer of simple continuous
appositional sutures followed by interrupted
pattern as it was less compromising to the crop
lumen. This time, crop was adequately inflated
with normal saline before skin closure to check
for any leakage. Skin was apposed using
Polyamide no. 2-0 by simple interrupted pattern
(Fig. 2).

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 Basha et al.

Birds were advised to keep isolated and were
given Enrofloxacin 10% liquid (100ml bottle) 1ml
in 1L of water dilution as only source of drinking
water for 5 days and ragi grains for feeding.
There were no further complications like
formation of crop fistula etc. Both the birds were
followed for 10 days and recovered uneventfully.
be desiccated if it has exposed with air for some
hours. Non vital tissues should be removed and
repaired. Pigeons will tolerate extensive crop wall
loss, as long as wound can be closed with
healthy tissues (Forbes, 2002). Raidurg et al.
(2010) performed surgical correction of impacted
crop in a hen by ingluviotomy.

Discussion
Primary non infectious lesions of crop mainly
include crop burns, foreign body penetration,
Vitamin A deficiency, crop impaction and
ingluviolith formations. Crop burns are usually
found in hand reared birds due to feeding of
excessively hot food. Foreign bodies may
penetrate wall of the crop, leading to necrosis
and loss of the food migrating to subcutis and
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References
Forbes, A.N. (2002). Avian gastrointestinal surgery.
Seminars Avian Exot. Pet. Med.11:196-07.
Harrison, G.J. (1987). Surgical repair of crop injuries.
AAV Today. 1:63.
Raidurg, R., Shivaprakash B.V., Dilip Kumar D. and
Usturge S.M. (2010). Impaction of crop in a hen. Indian
Vet. J. 87:182.

wall of the neck, leading to widespread

inflammation and necrosis (Schmidt, 1999). Schmidt, R.E. (1999). Pathology of gastrointestinal
Pigeons are often presented with extensive crop diseases in Psittacine birds. Seminars Avian Exot. Pet.
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injuries following wire strikes. The crop wall may Med. 8:79-82.
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