© Schattauer 2013 Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 1/2013 82 Case Report Surgical repair of a tibial fracture in a two-week-old grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) A.-M. Hespel 1,3 ; F. Bernard 1,4 ; N. J. Davies 2 ; V. Huuskonen 1 ; C. Skelly 1 ; F. David 1 1 UCD Veterinary Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; 2 The Irish Seal Sanctuary, Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co. Wexford, Ireland; 3 Current Address: Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Clinical Sciences, Radiology, Auburn, Alabama, USA; 4 Current address: Centre Hospitalier Vétér- inaire St Martin, Unité Chirurgicale, St Martin-Bellevue, France Keywords Seal, infection, fracture, repair, SOP, string-of- pearls plate Summary Objective: To report the successful manage- ment of a suspected infected tibial fracture in a common grey seal. Study design: Case report. Animal: Female common grey seal (Hali- choerus grypus), 2 weeks old, 20 kg. Methods: A closed, complete, transverse fracture of the left tibial distal diaphysis was debrided, reduced and stabilized using a string-of-pearls (SOP) locking plate covered with polymethylmethacrylate impregnated with gentamicin. Fracture of the ipsilateral fibula was left untreated. Postoperative radiographs were obtained immediately, and at 10 days, three weeks, and six weeks post- surgery, and a computed tomographic exam- ination was performed 2.5 months post- surgery. A species-specific progressive reha- bilitation programme was conducted. Results: Bone healing of both fractures and absence of injury of the distal tibial growth plate were evident on the 2.5 month follow- up examination, and also full range-of-motion of the flipper was preserved and no lameness or difficulty with swimming and hunting were detected. On computed tomography, signs of chronic left coxofemoral and ilial wing trauma were incidentally detected. The seal was re- leased three months postoperatively. Conclusion: A transverse infected distal fracture of the tibia and fibula in a young common grey seal was successfully managed with the combination of single SOP plating of the tibia, local antibiotic release and a spe- cific rehabilitation programme. Clinical relevance: Surgical treatment of a long-bone fracture in a wild immature grey seal was successful with a combination of techniques adapted to the species. Correspondence to: Dr. Florent David Large Animal Surgery Veterinary Clinical Studies School of Veterinary Medicine University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland Phone: +353 1 716 6065 Fax: +353 1 716 6061 E-mail: florent.david@ucd.ie Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2013; 26: 82–87 doi:10.3415/VCOT-12-01-0001 Received: January 2, 2012 Accepted: July 23, 2012 Pre-published online: November 14, 2012 Introduction Fractures occurring in grey seals are rarely reported, most likely because of the relative lack of surgical interventions being per- formed in wild marine mammals. The ma- jority of the fractures seem to be secondary to trauma (1, 2). Pinnipeds show anatomi- cal, physiological and behavioural idiosyn- crasies that need to be taken into account for appropriate veterinary care. To the au- thors’ knowledge, there is no previous de- scription of a long-bone fracture fixation in seals. The purpose of this article is to report our experience with diagnosis, anaesthetic technique, surgical treatment, and the re- habilitation programme of a wild imma- ture grey seal suffering from fractures of the left tibia and fibula that appeared to be infected. Case history A 20 kg female common seal (Halichoerus grypus) estimated to be two weeks of age was presented to the hospital four days after being found beached on rocks be- cause it had an injured left pelvic flipper. The injured orphan seal had first been res- cued by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, a regis- tered charity in charge of taking care of dis- tressed and injured marine wildlife. Swell- ing as well as signs of discomfort and ag- gression upon manipulation of the left pel- vic flipper were noticed at the time. Bacter- ial infections being common in seals, a course of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (12.5 mg/kg BID p.o.) and meloxicam (0.1 mg/ kg SID p.o.) was administered (1-3). As no improvement was noticed after four days of treatment, the seal was presented to the University College Dublin Veterinary Hos- pital for further investigations. On presentation the seal was bright, alert and responsive. It showed typical ag- gressive behaviour towards humans and was assumed to be relatively healthy. The seal was sedated with a combination of midazolam (0.2 mg/kg), pethidine (2 mg/ kg) and atropine (0.02 mg/kg). All drugs were mixed together in the same syringe and mounted on a spinal needle to inject For personal or educational use only. No other uses without permission. All rights reserved. Downloaded from www.vcot-online.com on 2013-02-11 | ID: 1000468115 | IP: 193.1.164.204