Texas A&M veterinarians have used advanced 3D printing technology to facilitate a complicated hip replacement procedure in a Labrador retriever.<\/p>\n
The patient, Ava, received bilateral total hip replacements as a young dog but started having complications in 2020. She is now 12 years old.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe artificial ball had worn away the plastic liner protecting the metal wall of the artificial joint,\u201d said Dr. Brian Saunders, a professor of small animal orthopedics and the small animal orthopedics service chief at Texas A&M\u2019s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. \u201cThe artificial ball then wore through the metal backing, causing a complete dislocation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The implant\u2019s erosion also caused small metal particles to accumulate around Ava\u2019s hip joint and in her pelvic canal, creating a granuloma.<\/p>\n
Dr. Saunders used CT-guided surgical planning and 3D printing to ensure a successful surgery.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe used computer-assisted 3D modeling to determine revision implant size and position,\u201d Dr. Saunders said. \u201cWe printed a replica of Ava\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cComplications like Ava\u2019s aren\u2019t common, but when they happen, they require advanced techniques to achieve a successful outcome,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ava is fully recovered and doing well, her owner, Janet Dieter, reported.<\/p>\n
The 3D printing process involved:<\/p>\n
\u201cPlanning using the 3D models was a huge contributing factor to our success,\u201d Dr. Saunders said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen she started showing signs that her hip was wearing out, we thought it might mean the end, and we were devastated,\u201d Ava\u2019s owner said. \u201cBut the veterinarians at Texas A&M were able to give her life again.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Advanced technology utilized at Texas A&M improves a Labrador retriever\u2019s mobility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":75459,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online","column-news","clinical_topics-news"],"acf":{"hide_sidebar":false,"hide_sidebar_ad":false,"hide_all_ads":false},"yoast_head":"\n