A Bernese Mountain Dog received a life-saving 3D printed titanium implant to reconstruct his jaw after the removal of a cancerous tumor. 

For dog lovers, the sad reality is that man’s best friend doesn’t live for as long as we do. For one Canadian family, disaster struck when they learned that their beloved seven-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog had a cancerous tumor on his face.

Unfortunately, the pooch’s only option was the total removal of the facial tumor and then reconstruction. However, most of the Bernese’s upper jaw was affected by the ongoing tumor. So, time was more important than ever.

Thanks to 3D printing, a patient-specific implant (PSI) saved the dog’s life and now supports his bone structure.

The upper jaw was a complex region for surgery and required “significant design and manufacturing freedom.” Of course, this is something 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, can provide.

The dog is now alive and well thanks to his new 3D printed titanium implant. Jan Klasen, veterinary surgeon, 3D designer and CEO of Voxelmed, explains:

“Without additive manufacturing technology, it would have been almost impossible to reconstruct the dog’s maxilla after tumor removal, because the area was extremely complex in geometry. The implant had to have a similar shape and functionality as the dog’s existing bone structure. Using additive manufacturing to maintain the original shape and function of the oral and nasal cavity ensures a high quality of life for the dog, just as a naturally shaped skull and maxilla helps the dog to breathe and eat easily.”

Voxelmed and Renishaw Work Together to Save the Bernese

First, Voxelmed designed the titanium implant in Germany. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) helped create a digital 3D model of the dog’s mouth. This is a standard that stores and transmits medical images.

Next, the German 3D design firm worked closely with Julius Liptak, veterinary surgeon at Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Ottawa, Canada, who carried out the surgery. Liptak gave regular input, comparing the implant to the dog’s skull and 3D scans. This meant a smoother design process.

By being involved, Liptak both sped up the design process and also planned extensively for the surgery. This meant reducing the amount of the time the dog would be under anesthetic.

Additive Design in Surgical Solutions (ADEISS) Centre in London, Ontario, Canada manufactured the implant. It took only two weeks to design and manufacture.

If the dog had waited too long, the tumor could have grown, making the implant useless. However, thanks to speedy 3D printing solutions, the Bernese Mountain Dog waited only a couple of weeks and spent one day in the hospital.

To the family’s delight, he made a full recovery and can breathe normally through his nose.

“To my knowledge, this is the first implant of its kind. Prior to this case, the majority of veterinary surgeons were unaware that the technology was even available. Similar reconstructions are now being planned in Germany and there is ongoing research into how animals can benefit from this procedure,” Klasen adds.

Source: Renishaw