Nonfatal Traumatic Gastric Evisceration in Two Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina)
Two Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) presented within a few hours of traumatic gastric evisceration; one had been struck by a lawn mower and the other had sustained a crush injury by automobile. In both cases, physical examination revealed severe carapacial fractures and a portion of the stomach exteriorized and entrapped by the carapacial fragments. Gastric perforation was identified and repaired in the turtle struck by lawn mower; the stomach of the second turtle was intact. The exposed gastric serosa of each turtle was irrigated and replaced within the coelom, and the carapacial fractures were reduced and stabilized. Following treatment and rehabilitation, the carapacial fractures healed, no complications occurred secondary to the gastric exteriorization, and both were released to the wild within 3 months of presentation. Treatment and rehabilitation of free-ranging Eastern box turtles following urban trauma may contribute to maintaining the wild populations of this species. Traumatic gastric evisceration of Eastern box turtles is a survivable condition if treated appropriately. Treatment, rather than euthanasia, should be considered for turtles that suffer this condition and are intended for release to the wild population.Abstract
Gastric evisceration and entrapment through a carapacial fracture of an Eastern box turtle following trauma induced by a lawn mower.
Carapacial fracture stabilization of two Eastern box turtles. The fracture caused by the lawn mower (a) was stabilized with the use of silk thread, and the fractures caused by an automobile (b) were stabilized with stainless steel wire, with epoxy caps to cover exposed sharp, twisted ends of the steel wire. Silver sulfadiazine cream was applied topically to the wound (a).
A positive contrast radiograph of an Eastern box turtle using iohexol to highlight the luminal gastric margins consistent with intact gastric rent repair and revealing no extraluminal or intracoelomic leakage. The clothing hooks used to stabilize the fracture can be seen cranial and caudal to the fracture site.
Healing fractures of two Eastern box turtles following external hardware removal and carapacial stabilization because of urban trauma from a lawn mower (a) and an automobile (b).
Lateral (a) and craniocaudal (b) pictures of gastric evisceration and entrapment through a carapacial fracture of an Eastern box turtle following trauma induced by an automobile. This turtle is anesthetized and intubated.
A transverse computed tomography (CT) image of an Eastern box turtle following partial gastric evisceration due to automobile trauma. Gastric content in the stomach can be seen within the intracoelomic gastric lumen contiguous with the extracoelomic gastric lumen. The stomach is entrapped between carapacial fragments.
