Two Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) presented within a few hours of traumatic gastric evisceration; one had been struck by a lawn mower and the other had sustained a crush injury by automobile. In both cases, physical examination revealed severe carapacial fractures and a portion of the stomach exteriorized and entrapped by the carapacial fragments. Gastric perforation was identified and repaired in the turtle struck by lawn mower; the stomach of the second turtle was intact. The exposed gastric serosa of each turtle was irrigated and replaced within the coelom, and the carapacial fractures were reduced and stabilized. Following treatment and rehabilitation, the carapacial fractures healed, no complications occurred secondary to the gastric exteriorization, and both were released to the wild within 3 months of presentation. Treatment and rehabilitation of free-ranging Eastern box turtles following urban trauma may contribute to maintaining the wild populations of this species. Traumatic gastric evisceration of Eastern box turtles is a survivable condition if treated appropriately. Treatment, rather than euthanasia, should be considered for turtles that suffer this condition and are intended for release to the wild population.
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1 December 2016
Nonfatal Traumatic Gastric Evisceration in Two Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina)
Jeffrey R. Applegate,
Rebecca L. Drapp,
Gregory A. Lewbart
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Eastern box turtle
gastric evisceration
rehabilitation
Terrapene carolina carolina
trauma