The team at Pride Veterinary Referrals rebuilt Boatswain's spine using a titanium implant.
Vets Speak Of Pride After Rebuilding Dog's Spine Using Titanium Implant
10 months ago 
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A dog’s spine was rebuilt using a titanium implant in a pioneering operation to treat a cancerous bone tumour.
A nine-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross called Boatswain was struggling to walk, his spine was at risk of imminent fracture because of the tumour, and his owners feared he wouldn’t survive.
But a team at Pride Veterinary Referrals in Derby carried out the ground-breaking surgical technique, using a tailor-made implant to replace a vertebra affected by cancer for the first time in the UK.
Remarkably, the dog was up and walking again in just 12 hours, and the large team, headed by vets Juan Minguez, Annette Wessmann and Rosario Vallefuoco, believe the new procedure could now help others.
The dog presented to the Neurology and Neurosurgery Service at the IVC Evidensia hospital after concerned owners Emma Clarke and Jamie Platt, from Walsall, had taken him to their daytime vet where X-rays detected the potential tumour.
The neurological examination was consistent with a thoracolumbar lesion and the X-rays showed a radiopaque mass with bony lysis on the third lumbar vertebral body.
“We chose to do a CT scan based on examination and the X-rays,” said Ms Wessmann.
“It confirmed the suspicion of a neoplastic lesion and ruled out other tumoral focus along the rest of the spine and other organs.
“Although the prognosis wasn’t good, we always want to support owners and they were keen for us to proceed and do all we could.”
The surgery was thoroughly planned, and a customised titanium implant was designed for Boatswain’s spine in collaboration with BETA Implants.
Speed was of the essence due to concerns over the potential spinal fracture.
“It was a case of combining our experience with that of the engineers,” said Mr Vallefuoco. “The original implants had been designed for humans, and we had to imagine what would be required for a dog and work out at every step what changes we would have to make.”
The surgery took place in three different stages, the first being L3 vertebra skeletonization and dorsal lamina removal. The second step was vertebral body removal. Finally, the third step was vertebral reconstruction using the designed implants.
“The whole procedure took around six hours, and it was very much a team effort with everyone’s involvement being very important,” said Mr Minguez.
“We discussed every element and potential issue in advance, and everything worked out just as planned.
“We were thrilled by the way Boatswain came through it, especially when we saw him get up and start walking within hours.”
Subsequent histopathology assessment of the mass confirmed osteosarcoma, and Boatswain is currently on chemotherapy.
But his progress has delighted his owners, who had thought their dog faced almost certain death.
“When we went to pick him up and he walked out with his tail wagging, it was an amazing feeling,” said Mr Pratt.
“We can see more of his old self coming through each day, but even now, I look at him I can’t believe this really happened, and he has this titanium spine in there.”
Following the success of the titanium spinal implant surgery, Pride Veterinary Referrals now hope to help other dogs with similar conditions.
“We are proud to be able to give our patients back these advanced surgeries as a treatment option to improve their quality of life,” added Mr Minguez.
Find out more about IVC Evidensia Referrals here.
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