Distal Metacarpus Fracture and Bandage Treatment in an Orphan Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) (Case Report)

In this case report, a 1-week-old female red fawn (Cervus elaphus), one of the largest deer species in the world, constituted the study material. In the clinical examination, posture disorder, severe lameness and malnutrition in young deer were determined in the anterior left and right feet. Radiographic examination of the case revealed a distal diaphyseal transversal fracture in the left metacarpal bone, and a fracture in the lateral 1st and medial 2nd phalanx distal in the right anterior extremity. General anesthesia was not preferred due to the lack of complicated fracture types and malnutrition in the young deer, and the treatment of the extremities, which were placed in a plaster bandage with mild sedation, was kept under follow-up. After the first week of 21-day plaster application, open wound formation on the foot was noticed and wound treatment was performed by opening a window on the plaster. It was aimed to inform our colleagues and other readers about the red deer phenomenon, which has been taken under protection because its population has decreased in Turkey, and to raise awareness.