Fin and Diana also had some other problems upon admittance that were treated during their stay at The Turtle Hospital.  Fin was originally found south of Sebastian Inlet with a prop wound to the top of the head.  Fin needed surgery to remove both his external fibropapilloma tumors and a piece of loose bone from the top of his head.

Diana was discovered floating at the Port of Palm Beach, where she was missing her front flipper and she was attached to a crab trap by fishing line! Diana had apparently swallowed the fishing line and it was visible sticking out of both her mouth and her cloaca.  Though it might seem like a simple solution to pull the line out that is very dangerous for sea turtles because of the length and the numerous turns in the digestive track. Staff first tried to treat the turtle with vegetable oil (a laxative for some turtles at the hospital) and get her to naturally pass the stuck line.  This non-invasive procedure did not work so Diana was put under the knife. Turtle Hospital Veterinarian Dr. Mader made a small incision at the hip, removed the intestines, and then removed the fishing line from five different points.

All three turtles are now happy, healthy and enjoying their life in the wild!

In addition to the head wound, a number of external fibropapilloma tumors are present. Surgery was performed to remove the loose piece of bone from the top of the head.

Subsequent surgery included an endoscope procedure (no internal tumors found!)

And to remove the eye tumors

Fin will require additional surgery to remove the external tumors, once she is stronger.

Update August 15th 2009:

Fin has recovered well from her final Fibropapilloma surgery and has been moved to the main pool. Fin will spend the next several months under observation to ensure she has no re-growths.