Dog Fitted With New 3D Printed Skull Roof

Operation performed by Utrecht University’s faculty of Veterinary Medicine is a first in Europe.

By the end of 2018, Utrecht University’s Clinic for Companion Animal Health succesfully fitted a dog with a new 3D-printed skull roof following the removal of dangeros tumour. It is the first time that an operation of this type has been performed in Europe. The operation was made possible through a unique collaboration between the University’s faculty of Veterinary Medicine and faculty of Medicine. Thanks to this achievement, the future of the medical field will be making some great changes that will benefit dogs and their owners. 

Veterinary surgeon Björn Meij places the new titanium skull roof

The Siberian Husky had an operation to remove a benign tumour of the cranial wall, known as an osteoma. The tumour, which grew both internally and externally, was so big that it was putting pressure on the animal’s brain, so a new skull roof was required. Veterinary surgeon Björn Meij states:

“One of the main advantages of 3D printing of a skull roof is that it can be tailored perfectly to the individual”

Here is the patient after the operation, and still a good dog!

Thanks to a unique collaboration between the faculty of Veterinary Medicine and University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), a new skull roof made of titanium was printed with the help of a CT scan of the dog. 3D systems from Leuven, Belgium was responsible for printing the titanium implants. Professor Bjorn Meij, is delighted with how the operation went and the dog’s subsequent recovery. Doctor Bjorn Meij also says 

“One of the main advantages of 3D printing of a skull roof is that it can be tailored perfectly to the individual, and a porous titanium edge can be printed. This edge allows the bone to grow into the implant so it becomes integrated into the skull”

This is the first time that an operation of this type has been performed in the Netherlands. The dog is now at home and is recovering well.

The operation and use of this material is part of a larger study in which the faculty of Veterinary Medicine and faculty of Medicine at Utrecht University are collaborating. This study relates to the development of a 3D-printed implant for use in hip dysplasia in humans and dogs. Work has already been done with 3D-printed components for the lower front limb of dogs, and the technique can be used to replace skeletal components following the removal of a bone tumour, for example in a paw or jaw or the skull.

skull roof prosthesis, skull after removing tumour, skull with tumour

Original Source: https://www.uu.nl/en/news/dog-fitted-with-new-3d-printed-skull-roof