Vetmaster
Custom 3D-Printed Biological Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) in a Dog: Clinical Case and 2.5-Month Outcome
In this case, I document what was the first reported biological canine total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using custom 3D-printed implants and disposable patient-matched instrumentation in China. The patient, a 25 kg Husky, suffered from end-stage osteoarthritis and severe meniscal damage triggered by chronic cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Facing a complete lack of off-the-shelf knee prostheses suited to this dog, my surgical team at Guangzhou Boss Animal Hospital collaborated with Associate Professor Zhang Jun and the materials engineering team at the Guangdong Academy of Sciences. Together, we designed and 3D-printed a cementless CoCrMo/porous titanium/Vitamin E-stabilized polyethylene implant system. Following 1:1 benchtop simulation, we successfully placed the prosthesis. By day one post-op, the dog was weight-bearing without pain; at 2.5 months, he was galloping freely off-leash across the grass.
Bilateral Total Hip Replacement in a Corgi: Navigating Thick Fat, Muscular Power, and Unique Breed Anatomy
Corgis are an orthopedic paradox: powerful musculature and short, stout limbs coupled with long lumbar spines and a notorious genetic predisposition to joint laxity. In this case, a 1-year-old intact male Corgi weighing 14 kg was brought to Guangzhou Boss Animal Hospital due to pronounced "waist swaying" during ambulation. Sedated examination and digital imaging confirmed severe bilateral hip laxity without end-stage bone deformity. Operating on Corgis is never routine: their dense subcutaneous adipose layers, deep surgical corridors, and wide medullary canal proportions demand meticulous execution. Using the Vetmaster biological dual-mobility hip system, I performed sequential bilateral total hip replacements (THR) spaced one month apart. Postoperative CT confirmed near-perfect mechanical symmetry—a 44° cup abduction on the left and 43° on the right—completely eliminating his gait instability and restoring true, pain-free athletic power.