engleski

Minimally Invasive Fracture Repair of Comminuted Tibial Fracture in Ring-tailed Lemur

The Lemur catta is a large arboreal/terrestrial quadruped from the suborder Strepsirrhini in the order Primata. Despite being the most populous lemur in zoos worldwide, the ring-tailed lemur is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction and hunting. Lemurs are highly social animals, living in large groups with a strict, female-dominant hierarchy. A 9-year-old, male, intact, healthy ring-tailed lemur from the Zoo was presented with a non-weightbearing hindlimb. It was sedated with an IM injection of 0.035 mg/kg medetomidine, 3.5 mg/kg ketamine and 0.1 mg/kg midazolam. A clinical exam showed evidence of a fracture of the left crus. An X-ray study found a comminuted tibial and fibular fracture. An IV catheter was placed into the cephalic vein, and midazolam (0.25 mg/kg) was applied. General anaesthesia was induced with propofol 2 mg/kg IV. The lemur was intubated and 2% isoflurane was used to maintain anaesthesia. Hydration was maintained with 0.9% NaCl 10 mL/kg/h IV. Epidural analgesia was provided by using 1% lidocaine 0.15 mg/kg. End tidal CO2, ECG, capnography, pulse oximetry, oesophageal temperature and non-invasive blood pressure were continuously monitored. A medial, minimally invasive portal approach to the tibia was used, and an intramedullary pin was introduced. A titanium 2.4 mm locking plate was pre-contoured, applied to the tibia and fixed with six screws. The incision sites were reconstructed with a monofilament absorbable suture (Maxon 3-0, Covidien) in three layers. Analgesia was provided with meloxicam (0.1 mg/ kg IV), and maintained perorally for the next five days. The recovery from the surgery was uneventful, and the lemur started weightbearing within a few days. It was kept in contact with the group, but in a secluded den. A control X-ray study after four weeks showed a significant callus formation and the lemur was introduced back into the group after six weeks. To the authors’ knowledge, this is a first report of an osteosynthesis in a lemur.

tibia, fibula, fracture repair, red - tailed lemur

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