ABSTRACT

An Aldabra tortoise, Geochelone gigantea, was presented for an open wound to the carapace. A physical examination revealed a deep opening in the shell associated with necrotic tissue and bone with secondary miasis. The tortoise was sedated and the necrotic tissue and bone was debrided to a 14 by 15 cm opening. The wound was covered with a wet-to-dry bandage and was changed every one to three days for three weeks. At three weeks, negative pressure wound therapy using the Vacuum-Assisted Closure™ System (V.A.C.®, Kinetic Concepts, Inc (KCI), San Antonio, TX) was initiated, which is an advanced system to stimulate wound healing by applying negative pressure to the wound bed to increase capillary blood flow and exudate removal. The V.A.C. ® dressing was changed every two to four days. Six weeks after initiating therapy, new bone growth was evident around the wound margins, and after 26 weeks of therapy the wound was closed and fully keratinized.