DORSAL LAMINECTOMY TO CORRECT SPINAL STENOSIS IN A SULCATA TORTOISE (CENTROCHELYS SULCATA) WITH SEVERE CARAPACIAL PYRAMIDING
2019
Abstract Case description: An approximately 17-year-old male African spurred
tortoise(
Centrochelys sulcata) was presented to the small animal surgery service for loss of
pelvic limbmotor function of 1-month duration and a lack of response to medical management. Clinical findings: On physical examination, significant carapacial
osteodermpyramiding with a large depression at the level of the fourth vertebral
scutewas noted. Results of serial neurologic examination revealed nonambulatory paraparesis that progressed to superficial pain positive
paraplegiaand absent cloacal tone. Both
thoracic limbswere within normal limits on neurologic evaluation. A complete blood cell count and biochemistry profile revealed anemia,
hyperuricemia, and monocytes containing intracellular bacteria. On computed tomography examination, stenosis and deviation of the spinal column was noted to be causing compression at the level of the fourth vertebral
osteoderm. Treatment and outcome: A dorsal
laminectomywas performed to relieve the
spinal cord compressionafter removing a rectangular section of
carapace. Immediately following surgery, the
tortoisewas noted to have significant cloacal tone. Unfortunately, the
tortoisesuccumbed to suspected sepsis and toxemia within 48 hours of surgery. Clinical relevance: Carapacial pyramiding is commonly reported in captive
tortoises. The changes noted in the
carapaceare attributed to inappropriate environmental conditions and diet. This case represents the first report of
spinal canaland spinal cord stenosis in a
tortoisesecondary to carapacial pyramiding. The findings in this report suggest that dorsal
laminectomymay be a viable treatment option in chelonians with
spinal cord compressionand neurologic deficits when indicated by clinical presentation.
Keywords:
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Correction
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