Texas A&M veterinarians have used advanced 3D printing technology to facilitate a complicated hip replacement procedure in a Labrador retriever.
The patient, Ava, received bilateral total hip replacements as a young dog but started having complications in 2020. She is now 12 years old.
“The artificial ball had worn away the plastic liner protecting the metal wall of the artificial joint,” said Dr. Brian Saunders, a professor of small animal orthopedics and the small animal orthopedics service chief at Texas A&M’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. “The artificial ball then wore through the metal backing, causing a complete dislocation.”
The implant’s erosion also caused small metal particles to accumulate around Ava’s hip joint and in her pelvic canal, creating a granuloma.
Dr. Saunders used CT-guided surgical planning and 3D printing to ensure a successful surgery.
“We used computer-assisted 3D modeling to determine revision implant size and position,” Dr. Saunders said. “We printed a replica of Ava’s dislocated hip joint and planned exactly how to perform the revision operation using the 3D bone models. In fact, we sterilized the plastic models and used them in the operating room to help guide the revision surgery.
“Complications like Ava’s aren’t common, but when they happen, they require advanced techniques to achieve a successful outcome,” he said.
Ava is fully recovered and doing well, her owner, Janet Dieter, reported.
The 3D printing process involved:
- Gathering 2D information from CT scans.
- Importing the information to a computer aided design (CAD).
- Designing a 2D model with CAD.
- Selecting the dimensions for the model’s fit and size.
- Printing the 3D model, which takes minutes or hours, depending on the model size and complexity.
“Planning using the 3D models was a huge contributing factor to our success,” Dr. Saunders said.
“When she started showing signs that her hip was wearing out, we thought it might mean the end, and we were devastated,” Ava’s owner said. “But the veterinarians at Texas A&M were able to give her life again.”