Banana Split

May 17, 2024

Banana Split is in extremely critical condition. She arrived with exposed bone in the first digit of her left front flipper, her left hind flipper incredibly swollen from an abscess and cellulitis, her body covered in wounds and lacerations, anemia, with fever, poor nutritional condition, dehydrated, and with a heavy parasite burden. As bad as all of that sounds, her worst ailment is her labored breathing caused by verminous pneumonia as a result of her lungworm burden. 

At this stage, Banana Split’s prognosis is extremely guarded. The animal care team is closely monitoring her condition and providing treatments to combat these ailments.  We will share any updates in her status as time goes on.

June 1, 2024

We are back with a much-anticipated update on  Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket  grey seal, Banana Split. 

While we are happy to report she is a fighter and still with us, Banana Split remains in critical condition.  After consulting with our radiologist, it has been determined that the bone exposure in Banana Split’s left front flipper is a “traumatic open fracture of the first digit in the proximal phalanx and distal phalangeal joint with associated soft tissue swelling and infection.” The good news is the fracture is not deterring normal function, however there was concern with the lucency (allowing light to pass through on x-ray) at the ends of the fracture margins which could mean osteomyelitis. What is osteomyelitis? Simply put, osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone.  With this concern, an additional assessment from the surgeon at a nearby clinic was done, and a collaborative plan was put into place for Banana Split. At this time an additional topical treatment has been added to her care plan and the wound will be given time to see if granulation will occur. More intensive treatment options have been discussed and putting any of those options into place will happen after reassessing the wound with the least invasive option.  

We greatly appreciate not only everyone’s support in Banana Split’s journey, but also your patience as updates come at a staggered pace.

July 13, 2024

It’s been a while since we last checked in with open fracture case, Banana Split, so here’s where we are at: Banana Split has progressed from an acute open fracture to a chronic ulcer which is good news. Unfortunately, our radiology expert found evidence of osteomyelitis on her most recent x-ray. Her treatment plan has been adjusted to cater to the multidrug resistant bacteria, and she will be monitored closely for any changes. This news may sound disheartening, but it is important to understand the severity of the wounds she arrived with, and how far she has come. While still undergoing treatment, Banana Split has regained full mobility of her flippers (don’t forget about complications with the left hind flipper!) and is behaviorally right where she should be. Thank you for your support as we continue working through this complicated case.

August 1, 2024

It’s been a long road to recovery for Banana Split, but we are pleased to report that the newest radiograph images showed no new osteomyelitis lesions in her left front flipper! Additionally, the impacted digits appear to be ossifying in with improved infection.

With this complicated flipper fracture healed externally, and showing signs of improvement internally, it’s time for Banana Split to go back to her ocean home. 

August 10, 2024

We take so much joy in this one: Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket rescue Banana Split is officially wild and free!

While her open fracture and osteomyelitis proved to be the most challenging throughout her rehabilitation, it’s important to remember that she arrived with a multitude of other challenges and injuries. Banana Split was admitted dehydrated, malnourished, lethargic, with labored breathing, fever, puncture wounds on her right shoulder, head and neck, lacerations on all four flippers, and left rear flipper lameness with an abscess on the third digit. Advanced diagnostics would show she had verminous pneumonia, a luxation of the left front flipper associated with soft tissue swelling and infection, and she was anemic.

Despite the extensive master problem list, Banana Split’s grey seal tenacity and the animal care team’s unversed dedication came out on top, and Banana Split was released in Plymouth Thursday, August 8th.

As always, we’d like to thank all of you for supporting our work to help animals like Banana Split.