Surgical repair of a lower lip avulsion in a red broket deer (Mazama gouazoubira): Case report

Abstract

Deer are ruminants very frequently observed in American fauna. These animals rarely see fences and screens in front of them, so trauma caused by shocks against these structures is commonly observed. One of the characteristic wounds of animals with this behavior is lower lip avulsion. When faced with such an injury, treatment should be started immediately, in order to increase chances of therapeutic success. Surgical correction of lip avulsion can be difficult due to lack of muscle tissue and absence of anchorage points in the facial anatomy of these animals. This study aimed to report the case of a red brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) that was admitted at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná with a lower lip avulsion. During anesthesia, the animal underwent surgical correction of the lip avulsion, in which cleaning, debridement and mucosal divulsion were performed, followed by single isolated stitches on the lateral margins of the lesion. Single isolated stitches were also used in the incisors as anchorage point for the suture in the rostral region, using 4-0 poliglecaprone. Then, photobiomodulation therapy with red laser was performed. In the postoperative period, pain control medication and antibiotic therapy were administered, and food was restricted to pasty and crushed. Twelve days after the procedure, the animal was again tranquilized for revaluation and complete healing of the site was observed. This way the animal could be returned to the wild.