Radiographic findings of metallosis in tibia of a common kestrel (Falco tinnuculus)

Due to excessive hunting of birds of prey in recent years, referring of these birds like kestrels as a result of wing and leg fractures to veterinary clinics has become widespread. Mostly due to comminuted fractures, the insertion of intraosseous pins into the broken bones might be necessary, which could lead to bending of the implant, pin breaking and metallosis. In Metallosis, production of soft tissues and bone damages occur near the metallic implants. In these kinds of reactions, metallic implant acts as foreign body and releases the nonspecific inflammatory processors. In this study radiographic findings of metallosis in the tibia of a common kestrel, which occurred due to reaction to a stainless steel pin, is explained. In radiographic images, thinning of bone cortex and the presence of radiolucent areas in the central cavity of the bone around the pin was observable. After removing the pin and decreasing the severity of metallosis, radiographic findings included decrement of radiolucent areas and increment of the diameter of the cortex and more radiopaque cortex and reduction of soft tissue inflammation. Studies show that stainless steel intramedullary pins might heighten the chance of metallosis in accordance with superficial corrosion of the steel and local or systemic releasing the metallic products of corrosion. So replacing stainless steel with titanium, because of lower amount of toxic, allergic and carcinogenic ions, would prevent inflammatory processes like metallosis.