Fluoroscopic-guided Shoulder Arthroscopy in a Yellow-headed Snapping Turtle (Elseya irwini) with Focal Degenerative Joint Disease
The yellow-headed snapping turtle, Elseya irwini, is an Australian freshwater species that is very rare in captivity. A routine radiographic examination of a captive female showed a moderate loss of bone across the left glenohumeral joint. No clinical signs had been observed. Results of computed tomography showed pathologic changes in both the proximal humerus and glenoid; no other joints were affected. Under general anesthesia, fluoroscopic-guided arthroscopy was used to assess the joint and obtain tissue samples for further diagnostics. All tissue cultures (aerobic bacterial, fungal, and mycobacterial) were negative. Histopathology showed chronic degeneration of the joint capsule and glenoid. The results gave a presumptive diagnosis of focal degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis). Arthroscopy can provide a minimally invasive surgical technique to evaluate joint pathology in turtles.Abstract
Dorso-ventral radiograph showing lysis of the left proximal humerus and glenoid.
Computed-tomography image: Three-dimensional reconstruction showing lysis of the left proximal humerus and glenoid. The right glenohumeral joint is unaffected.
Arthroscopy of the left shoulder: The left forelimb is retracted cranially and the cannula systems are visible in the craniolateral and caudolateral compartments, containing the arthroscopic biopsy forceps and arthroscope, respectively.
Histopathology of soft tissue from the abnormal shoulder showing two ligaments or tendons identified by their typical parallel fibers with regular periodicity (square brackets indicate boundaries). The structures are frayed (arrow) and disorganized (arrowhead), indicating marked damage or total rupture. Minimal inflammatory infiltrate is present.
