>>Using fiberglass, and/or epoxy coverings used to be the prefered method in vet. med and is still used widely today... however it is slowly losing favor to treating these types of wounds in an open fashion.

Not only is this so but I'd worry about infection too.
Mader's book states that with open wounds infection sets in quickly and generally with a shell repair antibiotics need to be prescribed as well.
Infection will kill them before the open shell will.

It's great that you want to help this turtle. With devastating wounds like you're describing for this one, it'll probably take about 2 years for it to heal. They can't be hibernated when they're healing so you have to keep them indoors & awake during winter. It's rewarding to do this though, so I'm certainly not trying to talk you out of doing this.
Good luck with your injured turtle!
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PHRatz

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