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A collaboration between researchers of UMC Utrecht and the faculty of Veterinary Medicine produced a new treatment for hip disorders. A 3D-printed implant should allow the hip joint to function properly again. Seventy dogs have already undergone treatment and the results are positive. This treatment with dogs also progresses the treatment of humans.

“I saw that many young people with hip dysplasia still had complaints despite an earlier treatment”, says , orthopedic surgeon at UMC Utrecht. This condition causes the hip socket to be too shallow which could cause the hip joint to dislocate partially. Babies with hip dysplasia receive either a Pavlik harness or surgical treatment. Sometimes this has insufficient effect or the disorder is discovered late. A major surgery with a long rehabilitation period is then required. Moreover, patients aren’t always satisfied with the results. That is why Van der Wal went looking for an alternative. “The idea was simple: if a piece of the hip socket is missing, why can’t we print a little rim to it?”

Dog as patient

Van der wal called his colleagues from the faculty of Veterinary Medicine. They were immediately enthusiastic. Hip dysplasia is very common among dogs with unpleasant consequences. Björn Meij, professor of Surgery of Companion Animals says: “Hip dysplasia could lead to tears in the cartilage with infections and arthrosis as a result. This damage is irreversible. This is why a quick treatment, often of both hips, is crucial.” This generally means two major surgeries in which the surgeon has to saw through the pelvis in three locations to be able to tilt the hip socket. Dogs then await a painful rehabilitation period of six weeks per hip.

Every dog gets a tailor-made implant

For the development of the printed alternative, the researchers observed dogs with hip dysplasia as patients. This meant the use of test animals remained minimal and the team achieved two goals: a further development of the technique for humans as well as dogs benefitting from the treatment already.

Careful design

With this treatment a surgeon screws a 3D-printed titanium implant onto the pelvis. This implant extends the hip socket with an extra rim which prevents the head of the thigh bone from moving out of the socket. Designers of UMC Utrecht use CT-scans to create tailor-made implants. A careful design is crucial. Meij: “We compare the situation of the patient with dogs in good condition to determine the measurements of the printed rim. If the rim is too small then the problem persists partially, but if it’s too big then the head could get in the way of the implant and lock the hip.”

Dogs weighing 15 to 90 kilos

The new treatment is a big success with dogs. “We have already treated seventy patients comprising dogs varying from 15 to 90 kilos” Meij says proudly. “Most of them were treated on both hips in a single surgery. They often walk around the clinic the same day and can go home with their owners the next day.” This success generates curiosity among practitioners. Two specialized veterinary clinics in Amsterdam and Utrecht have been performing the surgery since 2024 as well.

Most dogs walk around the clinic after the surgery the same day

First treatment of humans

Could the human patients of Van der Wal also benefit from this? “We’re currently researching the translation to humans. We’re planning to treat the first patients later this year” says Van der Wal. A scary step but the positive results with dogs give hope. The biggest challenge is the stack of paperwork. Van der wal: “we’ve teamed up with several different authorities to receive permission, meticulously document every phase of the development, patent the technology and create patient information folders.”

The dog eventually helps its owner

Practical tips

The collaboration between UMC Utrecht and the faculty of Veterinary Medicine was essential to make this idea a reality. Van der Wal: “The idea itself is only ten percent of the work, the rest is cooperation. Exchanging knowledge and learning from each other are very valuable.” Tips that veterinary surgeon Meij obtains in practice with dogs will eventually help surgeon Van der Wal with his patients. For example, it became clear that a small ridge on the side of the implant is convenient to get the implant in place. Additional X-ray screenings during surgery are also useful to check placement. The dogs return regularly for checkups and researchers monitor their recovery closely. With this doctors will know what to expect with their first human patients. Meij: “And this is how the dog eventually helps its owner.”

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