title: Surgical repair of a tibial fracture in a two-week-old grey seal (Halichoerus grypus).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the successful management of a suspected infected tibial fracture in a common grey seal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female common grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), 2 weeks old, 20 kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  A closed, complete, transverse fracture of the left tibial distal diaphysis was debrided, reduced and stabilized using a string-of-pearls (SOP) locking plate covered with polymethylmethacrylate impregnated with gentamicin. Fracture of the ipsilateral fibula was left untreated. Postoperative radiographs were obtained immediately, and at 10 days, three weeks, and six weeks post-surgery, and a computed tomographic examination was performed 2.5 months post- surgery. A species-specific progressive rehabilitation programme was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bone healing of both fractures and absence of injury of the distal tibial growth plate were evident on the 2.5 month follow-up examination, and also full range-of-motion of the flipper was preserved and no lameness or difficulty with swimming and hunting were detected. On computed tomography, signs of chronic left coxofemoral and ilial wing trauma were incidentally detected. The seal was released three months postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A transverse infected distal fracture of the tibia and fibula in a young common grey seal was successfully managed with the combination of single SOP plating of the tibia, local antibiotic release and a specific rehabilitation programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment of a long-bone fracture in a wild immature grey seal was successful with a combination of techniques adapted to the species.
authors.affiliation: UCD Veterinary Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hespel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Huuskonen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skelly
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: David
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing; D011859:Radiography; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000293:injuries*; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*