German Shepherd Becomes Bionic Dog After Being Fitted With Prosthetic Ankle




Posted by K9 Magazine Web Editor
on January 14, 2011




World's first for UK vet as bionic
German Shepherd, Mitzi Davis, unveiled her prosthetic ankle. Mitzi, a
three and a half year old white German shepherd dog from Dorchester in
Dorset was trampled by a horse which crushed her foot, tearing off all
blood and nerve supply back in October 2010. In a pioneering procedure,
Dr Noel Fitzpatrick fitted a titanium implant to the bone below her
joint – the first time a prosthesis has been put in a fully articulating
bone of a dog – meaning that the foot can move like a normal dog.

As Dr Fitzpatrick unclipped her lead, a few anxious moments
ensued before Mitzi took her first few strides, walking with a normal
gait and confirming to all eyes watching that the operation had indeed
been a huge success.

Commenting on the procedure, surgeon Dr Noel Fitzpatrick
commented; “Today could have gone either way. There was always a risk
that the exoprosthesis could actually break when Mitzi ran off her lead
so this truly was a nail biting moment for me and for the design team as
it could have failed spectacularly. What we’ve seen today is
remarkable. Mitzi is walking with an entirely normal gait, with her foot
moving exactly the way it should and today marks day one of Mitzi’s
return to living life like a normal dog.”
He added; “Today of course has implications not only for animals
but for human amputees in the future and I will continue to work
closely with Professor Blunn and the Stanmore Implants team to advance
this technology to improve the quality of life for animals and
eventually, for humans.”
Professor Blunn commented; “Humans and other animals share a
large number of degenerative musculo-skeletal conditions. The repair
process of the musculoskeletal system is essentially the same whether in
a dog, cat or human being. Reconstruction of the musculoskeletal system
share common problems and the interchange of information between both
veterinary and human orthopaedics is very important. Therefore treating
animals is not only ethical in its own right but is a useful paradigm
for human orthopaedics."
Talking Point

What do you think of Mitzi's proceedure?
Could Mitzi and her reaction pave the way to help humans?

shes a beautiful looking dog

its amazing what they can do nowadays, fingers crossed she has a long happy life

bless her still plenty of her life left to run