Intravenous regional antibiotic perfusion as an adjunctive therapy to treat osteomyelitis in a common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Abstract

A wild, adult, male common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) presented to North Carolina State University's Turtle Rescue Team (TRT) with injuries consistent with vehicular trauma. Injuries included head trauma with an associated superficial lesion of the head and an overpronated left forelimb with a necrotic wound on the palmar surface. Osteomyelitis localised to the left forelimb was considered the primary differential based on radiographic findings and clinical signs. To treat osteomyelitis, regional antibiotic limb perfusions were conducted approximately once per week. After conducting seven total regional antibiotic limb perfusions, the patient's ambulation and mentation improved significantly and there was no progression of osteomyelitis on repeated radiographs. The patient was released to the wild after 5 months under human care. This case report demonstrates the potential use of regional antibiotic limb perfusion as an adjunctive therapy for osteomyelitis in chelonians.