Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 2021 , Vol 27 , Issue 5
Optimal Management to Improve Quality of Life for an Injured Baby Elephant: Thailand Multidisciplinary Care Team
Siriphan KONGSAWASDI1, Kitti chai WANTANAJITTIKUL2, Warangkhana LANGKAPHIN3, Busaba CHUATRAKOON1, Kitti kul NAMWONGPROM3, Paphawee PRUPETKAEW1, Taweepoke ANGKAWANISH3
1Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 THAILAND
2Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 THAILAND
3National Elephant Institute, Forest Industry Organization, Lampang, 52190 THAILAND DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2021.25927 This article aimed to report the care, management, and monitoring of an injured female baby elephant. The collaboration among the multidisciplinary team included veterinary medicines, elephant handling, engineering, and physical therapy in the 3-year-old elephant with its left forelimb phalanges amputated through being caught in a snare trap. The management comprised medical wound care, nutrition and applying a prosthetic shoe. The kinematic parameters and vital sign monitoring were analysed. The results show that biomechanics gait analysis and physiological responses revealed promising benefi t of the prosthetic shoe by refl ecting a greater symmetrical gait pattern without dyspnea and no sign of exertion during daily life activity Keywords : Amputation, Artificial shoe, Elephant, Gait analysis, Prosthesis