Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Surgical Closure of Equine Abdomen, Prevention, and Management of Incisional Complications
Published on: May 10, 2024
Vacuum-assisted closure for treatment of a deep shell abscess and osteomyelitis in a tortoise
Michael J Adkesson1, Erika K Travis, Martha A Weber
1Saint Louis Zoo, 1 Government Dr, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Case Description:
A female Aldabra tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) was evaluated because of focal necrosis of the carapace.
Clinical Findings:
Debridement revealed a 14.5 x 11.5-cm area of shell necrosis, deep abscess formation, and osteomyelitis involving bacterial (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas spp) and fungal pathogens.
Treatment And Outcome:
Following extensive debridement, vacuum-assisted closure incorporating silver-impregnated bandaging materials was used. The wound was considered healed after 55 days, at which time a layer of epidermal tissue with progressing keratinization was present, with smooth underlying ossification. Keratinization with normal pigmentation continued over the next 67 days.
Clinical Relevance:
Findings suggested that vacuum-assisted closure with silver-impregnated bandaging materials may provide advantages over traditional methods in the treatment of shell lesions in chelonians, including faster wound healing, improved cosmetic appearance of the healed wound, superior control of microbial contamination, and lower overall treatment costs.
More Related Videos
05:45Stabilizing a Femur Osteotomy with a Plate Fixation in Ambystoma mexicanum
Published on: April 12, 2024
20:33A Case Series of Successful Abdominal Closure Utilizing a Novel Technique Combining a Mechanical Closure System with a Biologic Xenograft that Accelerates Wound Healing
Published on: July 4, 2019