Sim Richard R, Stringer Elizabeth, Donovan Dennis, Chappell Rachael, Flora Pat, Hall Jon, Pillay Selvum, Willis Benjamin G, McCain Stephanie
J Zoo Wildl Med. 2017 Sep;48(3):891-896. doi: 10.1638/2016-0212.1.
Tusk fractures in Asian (Elephas maximus) and African elephants (Loxodonta africana) can result in damage to the distal end or to longitudinal cracks, potentially progressing to pulpitis. With pulp exposure, endodontic therapy is the treatment of choice, but conservative therapy has sufficed for some elephants. This manuscript describes the use of composite materials as a component of tusk fracture management. A 7-yr-old male Asian elephant fractured the distal end of both tusks with pulp exposure in one. Capping of each tusk with a Kevlar/fiberglass composite prevented further damage, and a modification allowed care of the exposed pulp tissue. A 34-yr-old male African elephant with a longitudinal crack received a carbon fiber/fiberglass composite circumferential wrap to potentially stabilize the crack. Compression of the crack was achieved, but follow-up was truncated due to bacterial pulpitis. Both cases show that composite material allows for lightweight, durable management of tusk fractures with continued radiographic monitoring.
亚洲象（印度象）和非洲象（非洲草原象）的象牙骨折可能导致远端损伤或纵向裂缝，有可能发展为牙髓炎。牙髓暴露时，根管治疗是首选治疗方法，但对于一些大象来说，保守治疗也足够了。本文描述了使用复合材料作为象牙骨折治疗的一个组成部分。一头7岁的雄性亚洲象两根象牙远端骨折，其中一根牙髓暴露。用凯夫拉尔纤维/玻璃纤维复合材料覆盖每根象牙可防止进一步损伤，并通过改良方法对暴露的牙髓组织进行处理。一头34岁的雄性非洲象有纵向裂缝，接受了碳纤维/玻璃纤维复合材料的环形包裹，以稳定裂缝。裂缝得到了压缩，但由于细菌性牙髓炎，随访中断。这两个案例都表明，复合材料能够以轻便、耐用的方式处理象牙骨折，并持续进行影像学监测。
