leg fracture

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cshort

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Thankfully all of my desert and box turtles are just fine, but I still have a question!
I am in a veterinary tech program and need to write a paper. Has anyone ever heard of a turtle leg fracture being splinted, or know of any other treatments for leg fractures?
Thank you for any information you have.
 

egyptiandan

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Despite their shells, though, fractures can be immobilised and any pain associated with the movement of unstable fractures reduced by taping either forelimbs or hind limbs in flexion within the shell. Careful radiographic follow-up is important to monitor callus formation and healing. Dressings must be changed regularly if soiled or where they have slipped and no longer immobilise the fracture in an appropriate position for repair.
External fixation
External fiaxators are simple and cheap. However they are not easily applied to chelonian limb extremities alone because the generally foul the shell during limb withdrawl. In such cases it may be best to include an anchorage point to the shell. External fixators can be created using pins, hypodermic needles and thermosettings plastics.
Internal fixation
Mitchell (2002) points out that internal fixation is a surgical option for chelonians with simple, non-comminuted fractures that cannot be stabilised with external support. Alternatively, it may also be appropriate where a reptile is aggressive and difficult to handle and it's behavior is likely to damage any external support around a repaired fracture. Cerclage wire, intra-medullary pins and plates & screws have all been used to stabilise limb fractures in chelonians, although their use is generally restricted to large zoo specimens and those of high financial and conservation worth.
Following surgery, the chelonian will need careful observation for the possibility of a secondary osteomyelitis or implant failure. It is inappropriate to release animals into the wild without first confirming that any implant is free of obvious complications.
Crossed K wires were used to support a distal femoral fracture in Chrysemys picta (Mitchell 2002) and the use of a neutralisation bone-plate to repair a humeral fracture in an Aldabran tortoise was described by Crane et al. (1980). However, the contours of reptilian bone make plate contour creation complex and unrealistic in many cases. Additionally, the cost and surgical effort involved in implantation make the technique beyond the scope of most chelonian cases.

From Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and Turtles (2004) by McArthur, Wilkinson and Meyer. Page 449 to 450.

Danny
 

cshort

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Thank you very much, that is EXACTLY the information I needed!!
egyptiandan said:
Despite their shells, though, fractures can be immobilised and any pain associated with the movement of unstable fractures reduced by taping either forelimbs or hind limbs in flexion within the shell. Careful radiographic follow-up is important to monitor callus formation and healing. Dressings must be changed regularly if soiled or where they have slipped and no longer immobilise the fracture in an appropriate position for repair.
External fixation
External fiaxators are simple and cheap. However they are not easily applied to chelonian limb extremities alone because the generally foul the shell during limb withdrawl. In such cases it may be best to include an anchorage point to the shell. External fixators can be created using pins, hypodermic needles and thermosettings plastics.
Internal fixation
Mitchell (2002) points out that internal fixation is a surgical option for chelonians with simple, non-comminuted fractures that cannot be stabilised with external support. Alternatively, it may also be appropriate where a reptile is aggressive and difficult to handle and it's behavior is likely to damage any external support around a repaired fracture. Cerclage wire, intra-medullary pins and plates & screws have all been used to stabilise limb fractures in chelonians, although their use is generally restricted to large zoo specimens and those of high financial and conservation worth.
Following surgery, the chelonian will need careful observation for the possibility of a secondary osteomyelitis or implant failure. It is inappropriate to release animals into the wild without first confirming that any implant is free of obvious complications.
Crossed K wires were used to support a distal femoral fracture in Chrysemys picta (Mitchell 2002) and the use of a neutralisation bone-plate to repair a humeral fracture in an Aldabran tortoise was described by Crane et al. (1980). However, the contours of reptilian bone make plate contour creation complex and unrealistic in many cases. Additionally, the cost and surgical effort involved in implantation make the technique beyond the scope of most chelonian cases.

From Medicine and Surgery of Toertoises and Turtles (2004) by McArthur, Wilkinson and Meyer. Page 449 to 450.

Danny
 

Yvonne G

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Hi Cshort:

Welcome to the forum!!
 
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