Shell Injuries

In chapter 1, we learned a bit about a turtle’s shell. Not surprisingly, the health of the shell is key to a turtle’s overall health. When the shell is cracked or damaged in any way, it’s very painful (think of breaking one of your bones!) and very serious. A turtle cannot survive without its shell.

The most common injuries seen in smaller turtles involve fractures of the carapace. Sometimes, these fractures open right into the body cavity. Larger species, such as snapping turtles, are often brought to the center with very deep scratches along the carapace — an injury that occurs when cars try to “straddle” the turtles as they cross the road.

There are a number of ways to repair a damaged shell.

Wound Dressings

Some injuries are relatively minor and can be treated simply with bandages. The wounds need to be cleaned and then dressed carefully. Bandages must be changed regularly as the turtle heals.

Orthopedic Wire

When humans break or fracture bones, surgeons often use orthopedic wire to hold the injured pieces together so healing can begin. The same technique can work for turtles with injured shells. 

Cable Ties

Cable ties are used for all sorts of things — to tie up garbage bags, to fasten plants to stakes in the garden and to hold loose items together. At a turtle rehabilitation center, cable ties bring fractures together on larger species of turtle such as Blanding’s turtles and snapping turtles.