Repair of horn and frontal bone avulsion in a forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) with a polymethylmethacrylate dressing.
A 2-yr-old female forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) presented with acute trauma to the right horn following a fight with a conspecific resulting in fracture and avulsion of the frontal bone, cornual process, horn, and juxtaposed skin. The animal was sedated for wound care and debridement followed by placement of an antibacterial-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) dressing. The dressing was noted to be intact on examination at day 7 post-injury, but had become dislodged and had to be replaced at day 11 postinjury. The replacement dressing ultimately fell off 68 days post-injury, revealing a healed circular scar. The use of PMMA in this case provided optimal wound care. In the 6 yr since the injury, the animal has grown a nearly normal-appearing horn, suggesting that the noncornual skin and associated skull structures may retain the ability to differentiate into a near-normal appearing horn because the entire horn apparatus in this case was avulsed.
Morris
Patrick J
PJ
Department of Veterinary Services, San Diego Zoo, P.O. Box 120-551, San Diego, California 92112-0551, USA. pmorris@sandiegozoo.org
Bicknese
Beth
B
Sutherland-Smith
Meg
M
D000818:Animals; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D003646:Debridement / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D006733:Horns / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D009779:Occlusive Dressings / Q000662:veterinary; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate