Surgical removal of a tibiotarsal fibrosarcoma in an African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus): A case report

Abstract

A two-year-old male African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) was presented for a mass growing on the distal tibiotarsal region for months with rapid enlargement over the last three weeks. Clinical examination revealed reluctance in weight bearing and self-mutilation at the lesion site. Surgical excision was performed under xylazine (1.5 mg/kg) and ketamine (20 mg/kg) anesthesia. The excised mass measured 2.0 × 1.4 × 1.6 cm. Post-operative management included enrofloxacin, meloxicam, fluid therapy, and regular wound dressing. Histopathology confirmed fibrosarcoma characterised by an infiltrative spindle-cell neoplasm arranged in interlacing fascicles with a herringbone pattern.” (Reavill, 2004; Schmidt et al., 2024). Complete functional recovery was observed within two weeks. This report highlights successful surgical management of a distal limb fibrosarcoma in a psittacine species and emphasizes the importance of early intervention in cases of self-trauma and locomotor compromise.