When amputation isn't an option for dogs with bone cancer, there is hope. 3-paws up to Dr. Seguin & the pawesome team at Colorado State University's Flint Animal Cancer Center are developing a new limb sparing technique!

Using 3-D Printing Technology to Personalize Limb-Spare Implants

One of the most common cancers in dogs is osteosarcoma (bone cancer). Typical treatment includes amputation, but for some patients, amputation is not an option due to neurologic or orthopedic issues , such as arthritis. The limb-spare technique developed by Flint Animal Cancer Center’s founding director Dr. Steve Withrow provided a solution for those patients (and human patients too). While a saving grace for many, it also comes with complications. Common challenges include infection, biomechanical failure, and local recurrence. Of these, implant failures – plate breaks, screws pulling out – occur in up to 60 percent of cases in pets.

FACC-trained surgical oncologist and associate professor, Dr. Bernard Séguin is hoping to use 3-D printing technology to overcome one or more of these challenges. READ MORE