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Australian veterinary journal
Mar 23, 2025;

Use of a tibial osseointegrated prosthesis as a limb salvage method in two dogs.

A Fink, A Malak, M Al Muderis, W Lu, A S Levien
Author Information
  1. A Fink: Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS), Miranda, New South Wales, Australia. ORCID
  2. A Malak: Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS), Miranda, New South Wales, Australia.
  3. M Al Muderis: Macquarie University and The Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
  4. W Lu: Osseointegration International, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.
  5. A S Levien: Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS), Miranda, New South Wales, Australia.
PMID: 40122581 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13438

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report on the management and outcomes of two dogs treated with osseointegrated prosthesis for pelvic-limb salvage.
STUDY DESIGN: Short case series.
SAMPLE POPULATION: Two client-owned large breed dogs with distal tibial amputation due to neonatal and iatrogenic trauma.
METHODS: Preoperative computed tomography (CT) was performed to assess tibial medullary length and width. A custom-made intramedullary prosthesis was implanted and attached to a 3D-printed external prosthesis simulating a foot. Postoperative care included bandaging and regular chlorhexidine washes. Postoperative monitoring included clinical evaluation, owners' assessment of function and radiographs.
RESULTS: Both dogs regained good use of the operated limb within 3���weeks of surgery. Osseointegration and bone remodelling around the implants were noted on radiographs, with no evidence of loosening or implant migration observed. Mild serosanguinous discharge at the cutaneous-implant interface was observed in the early postoperative period, resolving without intervention. Progressive osteolysis around the implants was detected on radiographs in both dogs by 22���months. Though osteomyelitis is suspected, both dogs were using the limb adequately and had satisfactory quality of life at more than 36���months after surgery. A consistent hygiene routine is suspected to delay this process and should theoretically prolong the lifespan of these implants.
CONCLUSION: This osseointegrated implant system allowed dogs with traumatic loss of the hindpaw to regain normal clinical function of their pelvic limb for 3���years. Occasional soft tissue infections of the stoma sites were observed, but were easily managed, and long-term (36���month) follow-up suggests durability of the prosthesis.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results justify further studies in a larger cohort to assess the long-term durability of osseointegrated prostheses as a single-stage strategy to treat partial limb amputation.

Keywords

limb salvage osseointegration prosthesis tibia

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Case Reports Journal Article

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0dogsprosthesislimbosseointegratedsalvagetibialradiographsimplantsobservedtwoamputationassessPostoperativeincludedclinicalfunctionsurgeryaroundimplantsuspectedlong-termdurabilityOBJECTIVE:reportmanagementoutcomestreatedpelvic-limbSTUDYDESIGN:ShortcaseseriesSAMPLEPOPULATION:Twoclient-ownedlargebreeddistaldueneonataliatrogenictraumaMETHODS:PreoperativecomputedtomographyCTperformedmedullarylengthwidthcustom-madeintramedullaryimplantedattached3D-printedexternalsimulatingfootcarebandagingregularchlorhexidinewashesmonitoringevaluationowners'assessmentRESULTS:regainedgooduseoperatedwithin3���weeksOsseointegrationboneremodellingnotedevidencelooseningmigrationMildserosanguinousdischargecutaneous-implantinterfaceearlypostoperativeperiodresolvingwithoutinterventionProgressiveosteolysisdetected22���monthsThoughosteomyelitisusingadequatelysatisfactoryqualitylife36���monthsconsistenthygieneroutinedelayprocesstheoreticallyprolonglifespanCONCLUSION:systemallowedtraumaticlosshindpawregainnormalpelvic3���yearsOccasionalsofttissueinfectionsstomasiteseasilymanaged36���monthfollow-upsuggestsCLINICALSIGNIFICANCE:resultsjustifystudieslargercohortprosthesessingle-stagestrategytreatpartialUsemethodosseointegrationtibia

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