Reconstruction of a Carapace Fracture in an Amboina Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis) Using a Simple Screw–Zip Tie External Fixation Technique: A Case Report

Articles in Press

Document Type : Case report

Authors

Muhammad Farid Rizal ¹

Itfa Alya ²

Hilma Luthfia Sudarsyah ¹

Rachma Ayu Saputri ¹

Adinda Rahmani ¹

Muhammad Lutfi Gaisani ¹

Suseno Amien ³

¹ Urban Animal Pet Care Clinic, Bandung, Indonesia

² Veterinary of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia

³ Biotechnology Study Program, Graduate School, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia

10.22067/ijvst.2026.97624.1642

Abstract

Traumatic carapace fractures in turtles present clinical challenges because of complex shell anatomy, wound contamination, and difficulty maintaining stable fixation while allowing wound access. This report describes the clinical course, management, and short-term outcome of a complex open carapace fracture in an Amboina box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) treated using screw–zip tie external fixation. An adult female turtle of unknown age was presented two days after a staircase fall, following recent oviposition. Clinical examination revealed multiple displaced and comminuted carapace fractures with exposed subcarapacial tissue and traumatic myiasis. After chemical restraint with tiletamine–zolazepam (10 mg/kg, intramuscularly), the wound was irrigated, visible contaminated material was removed, and fly eggs and larvae were manually cleared. Stabilization was performed using 10 screws (6 mm in length, 3 mm in diameter) and polyamide zip ties (10 cm in length, 3 mm in width). Postoperative treatment included long-acting enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg, intramuscularly) and calcium gluconate (100 mg/kg, intramuscularly). The screws were removed one month after surgery. The fracture site remained stable, with no evidence of infection, wound dehiscence, or recurrent myiasis, and the turtle remained active and continued to feed normally. In this case, screw–zip tie external fixation was successfully used to stabilize a complex open carapace fracture while maintaining wound access. However, the contribution of the fixation technique to the outcome cannot be determined independently from the other treatments, and long-term shell remodeling could not be assessed.

Keywords

Chelonian

Shell fracture

Carapace

External fixation

Traumatic myiasis

Case report

Subjects

• Exotic companion mammal

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