title: Extraction of an infected tusk in an adult African elephant.
abstract: An 18-year-old African elephant was determined to have a nonrepairable crack in its left tusk. Treatment included extraction of the tusk, using rotational and extractional forces, and administration of antibiotics, followed by 1 year of flushing the opened tusk cavity with warm tap water. Two years after surgery, the elephant was healthy, and the tusk cavity was 80% filled with normal tissue.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Safari, Winston, OR 97496-0231.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Opdahl
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Driver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D004606:Elephants; D007180:Incisor / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000662:veterinary*