Buccal and buccal cum salivary fistula were diagnosed in four male adult dromedary camels of age between 12-18 years. In all cases fistulous wound was surgically repaired by debridement and suturing of wound edges with the interior and exterior application of rubber sheath as a wound protectant. In cases with buccal cum salivary fistula (2 cases), along with fistulous wound repair, Stenson’s duct was ligated and parotid gland cauterised with retrograde infusion of Lugol’s iodine. Surgery was performed in all cases under xylazine (0.4 mg/kg bwt.) and ketamine (2 mg/kg bwt.) administered intravenously. The fistula recurred in three cases after 6-8 weeks. Abnormal interdental gap between maxillary molar teeth (cheek teeth diastemata) against the buccal fistulous wound was present in these cases as evident by lateral radiograph of skull region. Coarse feed straw was found trapped in these gaps causing injury to the buccal mucosa. The interdental space in these 3 animals with recurring fistula and in a new case was filled with acrylic material under general anaesthesia after complete cleaning and drying the space. In a long term follow up of 2-3 months, the filling of interdental space with acrylic material remained in place and no recurrence of buccal fistula was seen in all the cases.
Key words: Buccal fistula, cheek teeth diastemata, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), salivary fistula
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