Dorsal Laminectomy to Correct Spinal Stenosis in a Sulcata Tortoise (centrochelys Sulcata) with Severe Carapacial Pyramiding

Case description: An approximately 17-year-old male African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) was presented to the small animal surgery service for loss of pelvic limb motor function of 1-month duration and a lack of response to medical management. Clinical findings: On physical examination, significant carapacial osteoderm pyramiding with a large depression at the level of the fourth vertebral scute was noted. Results of serial neurologic examination revealed nonambulatory paraparesis that progressed to superficial pain positive paraplegia and absent cloacal tone. Both thoracic limbs were within normal limits on neurologic evaluation. A complete blood cell count and biochemistry profile revealed anemia, hyperuricemia, and monocytes containing intracellular bacteria. On computed tomography examination, stenosis and deviation of the spinal column was noted to be causing compression at the level of the fourth vertebral osteoderm. Treatment and outcome: A dorsal laminectomy was performed to relieve the spinal cord compression after removing a rectangular section of carapace. Immediately following surgery, the tortoise was noted to have significant cloacal tone. Unfortunately, the tortoise succumbed to suspected sepsis and toxemia within 48 hours of surgery. Clinical relevance: Carapacial pyramiding is commonly reported in captive tortoises. The changes noted in the carapace are attributed to inappropriate environmental conditions and diet. This case represents the first report of spinal canal and spinal cord stenosis in a tortoise secondary to carapacial pyramiding. The findings in this report suggest that dorsal laminectomy may be a viable treatment option in chelonians with spinal cord compression and neurologic deficits when indicated by clinical presentation.