SURGICAL TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA)

Abstract

In 2012, 543 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and 124 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) were admitted to the Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Pieterburen, The Netherlands. In 19 seals (3%), signs of infection in a hind flipper were observed. Initial treatment consisting of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs resolved the symptoms in 15 animals. In four harbor seals, estimated to be 3 to 4 mo old, a necrotizing infection developed that resulted in osteoarthritis of the tarsus or tibiotarsal joint or both. Bacterial culture revealed the presence of polymicrobial infection in three of the four animals. Treatment consisted of amputation of the hind flipper under general anesthesia combined with tumescent anesthesia in the operation field. Amputations were done at the diaphysis of the tibia and fibula. After resecting these bones, the flipper was discarded, leaving a good muscle-skin cuff to cover the edges of the bones and close the skin without tension. The estimated blood loss varied between <50 to 150 ml. Healing was uneventful, and both antibiotics and analgesics were gradually reduced according to the individual response. The seals did not show any functional impairment 1 mo postoperatively. After release to the sea, scrutinous revision of all radiographs showed signs of osteomyelitis in at least one animal in the proximal part of the tibia, also present preoperatively. It is concluded that tumescent anesthesia in seals may reduce perioperative blood loss and that a lower leg amputation is a surgically easy and clean approach for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hind flipper of seals, giving good functional results (diving, catching fish, exiting a pool, and moving on land).

How small could a pup sound? The physical bases of signaling body size in harbor seals

“…Research was performed at Sealcentre Pieterburen in The Netherlands, which rehabilitates approximately 500 phocids (family Phocidae) every year ( Osinga and van Voorst Vader 2010 ; Rubio-García et al 2015 ). The success rate of the rehabilitation center is high: Between 2010 and 2015, the average percentage of animals successfully released in the wild was 84%.…”

Giant cell sarcoma managed with forelimb amputation in a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina geronimensis)

“…However, forelimb amputation in pinnipeds has not previously been documented. Pelvic flipper amputation at the level of the diaphysis of the tibia and fibula has been performed in several cases of osteoarthritis in harbour seals 14. In the present case, amputation of the forelimb was successful at eliminating the neoplasm, and the loss of the limb did not significantly affect the behaviours considered normal for this species or the individual’s overall welfare.…”