USE OF PROSTHESIS IN A CAPARACE FRACTURE OF Chelonoidis carbonarius (Testudines: Testudinidae)

Vieira da Costa, Dara EvelyCerqueira de Paula Tessari, Hedermy Christiemde Lima Borges Leão, CesarQueiroz Luz Hirano, Líria

Testudines are members ofthe Reptilia class, they are ectothermic anddiffer from other reptiles by the presence ofthe shell, which covers most of their bodies.Shell fractures are common in these animalsand can occur due to several factors, mainlytrauma. This paper aims to report the useof prosthesis in a red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonarius). An adult female weighing 2.45 kg was sent to the Wild AnimalSector of Veterinary Hospital of Universityof Brasilia. The specimen presented carapace fracture caused by compress of garbage truck. Even after healing the lesion, there was persistent communication betweenthe coelomic cavity and the environment,which caused recurrent pneumonia. Afterstabilization of the patient and treatmentof infections, an adhesive cover was placedto isolate the coelomic cavity, which waschanged periodically. Moreover, it was decided to make a prosthesis with acrylic resin, since it was not feasible to perform the repair by conventional methods. The methodwas satisfactory in the sealing of the carapace and the animal was monitored for amonth without showing signs of pneumoniaor any other complications.