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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Veterinary Imaging
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1582720
This article is part of the Research Topic Advances in Veterinary 3D Modeling: Applications of CT, MRI, and Scanning Technologies View all 3 articles
Orthopedic Applications of 3D Printing in Canine Veterinary Medicine
Provisionally accepted- 1 Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- 2 College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
- 3 University of Minnesota Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Objective: This case series investigates the application of 3D printing in veterinary orthopedic surgeries, emphasizing its potential to enhance preoperative planning, intraoperative precision, and postoperative outcomes. Animals: Three canines - German Shepherd, Basset Hound, and Labrador Retriever - were included in this study. Materials and Methods: Three canine cases involving complex orthopedic deformities were selected to illustrate different uses of 3D printing in veterinary surgery. CT scans were segmented using Materialise Mimics 26.0, followed by virtual surgical planning and creation of 3D printed models and guides. Results: In Case 1, a 2-year-old German Shepherd with a congenital right tibial deformity underwent successful surgical correction aided by a preoperatively prepared external fixator frame, saving approximately one hour of OR time. In Case 2, a 1-year-old Basset Hound with a left antebrachial deformity had a double wedge osteotomy performed with the assistance of patient-specific cutting and reconstruction guides, leading to optimal alignment and reduced surgical time. Case 3 involved a young, less than 1-year-old Labrador Retriever rescue with severe bilateral tibiofemoral deformity, where 3D printed models helped the surgeon determine that surgery was not the best option, potentially preventing a poor outcome.Clinical relevance: This case series highlights the transformative potential of 3D printing in veterinary orthopedic surgery, illustrating its ability to improve aid surgical outcomes, reduce operative times, and be a valuable tool in preoperative decision-making. This technology allows for tailored surgical interventions, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of treatment plans in veterinary medicine.
Keywords: 3D printing, Orthopedics, Additive manufacturing, intraoperative guide, presurgical planning, Anatomic modeling, Canine surgery
Received: 24 Feb 2025; Accepted: 04 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Thomas, Amsellem, Nascene and Huang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Yu-Hui Huang, University of Minnesota Health Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis, 55455, Minnesota, United States
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.