Soft Tissue Surgery of Raptors and Columbiformes

Soft tissue surgery in raptors and Columbiformes is shaped by distinctive avian anatomy-thin, friable skin with extensive skeletal attachments, diffuse cutaneous vasculature, and a 3 stage wound healing process-and by species-specific injury patterns. This article reviews preoperative triage, anesthetic considerations, and wound classification by etiology and contamination grade, and details key reconstructive and specialized procedures including ingluviotomy, cervical advancement flaps, propatagial ligament repair, tendon repair, imping, and management of pododermatitis. Integrated falconry-based rehabilitation is emphasized as adjunctive physiotherapy to restore flight, shorten hospitalization, and improve postrelease survival in both wild and captive birds.