UP: Turtle's luck turns after superglue surgery

BAREILY: In a quick fix solution, experts at Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly used superglue and blouse clasp (hook) to join the shattered shell of an endangered turtle which was run over by a car. Since the adhesive used by orthopaedic surgeons was unavailable and time was running out for the turtle, superglue was used as an alternative to fix the multiple cracks in the shell.
The procedure was performed by Dr Abhijeet Pawde along with Dr Kamlesh Kumar and other members of the top veterinary institute's team. The turtle is under observation at a rehabilitation centre in Budaun and its condition is being monitored.
The Indian Flapshell turtle is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list of wildlife species. This particular one was rescued by animal activist Vokendra Sharma in Budaun and brought to Bareilly on Monday.
A member of the team that treated the turtle told TOI, "The injured reptile was brought to our facility around 4.35pm on Monday, and it was battling for life. It was a female with seven eggs in her womb. We had to perform surgery immediately to save its life. We needed adhesive used by orthopaedic surgeons, which was not available here. As time was running out for the turtle, we used the superglue as an alternative, as it is also a cyanoacrylate adhesive."
The veterinarian added: "We used blouse clasps (hooks) and fixed these on either side of the cracked shell using cyanoacrylate adhesive. Then these clasps were fastened with orthopaedic wire to join the cracks...In this case, the reptile was delicate, and using the right amount of anaesthesia was important. Every procedure went right and the surgery was successful. We have asked the animal rights activist to provide us with feedback about the turtle's condition".
Cyanoacrylates are a family of strong, fast-acting adhesives with industrial, medical, and household uses. They are derived from ethyl cyanoacrylate and related esters.
Vokendra Sharma said, "I had received a call about an injured turtle and rescued it in a critical condition. Its shell had been cracked and it was bleeding. I, along with my team members, and with help from the forest department took the injured turtle to IVRI Bareilly. The condition of the turtle has improved significantly after the procedure, and I hope that it will completely recover soon."