Canine Amputee Makes Prosthetic History

May 7, 2008

FT. COLLINS, Colo. –- A dog found hobbling in the Kuwaiti desert is expected to become the first to receive an experimental prosthesis that could eventually help other dogs.

Sally, a Suluki, was rescued by an animal welfare group, and has been adopted by a Colorado veterinarian, Dr. Erick Egger, who is trying to help her.

Found abandoned in the desert, part of Sally’s left hind leg was severed, and her right hind leg was fractured. The injuries were likely due to abuse. After the first of three surgeries she’ll need, Sally is recovering well in her quest to resume a relatively normal life.

Rescued by the Protecting Animals Welfare Society in Kuwait, or PAWS, and because one of the volunteers was a graduate of Colorado State University, Sally eventually wound up at CSU in Ft. Collins, Colo. She is getting a second chance at CSU's Veterinarian Teaching Hospital -- one of the most prestigious vet schools in the nation.

“Obviously, she wants a fourth leg, just from the way she runs around, and there’s a lot of interest and support from folks to try to provide that for her,” Egger said.

Egger will attempt a new approach at implanting a metal prosthesis into Sally’s existing leg bone.

“The stem is the important part, and would go up into the bone,” he said. “That stem is made of titanium, and is secured in place with these screws that are placed from the inside out through the bone. Those hold the implant in place while the bone grows into it.”

Egger and his wife, Sue, say they fell in love with their new patient when she came to the states.

“Now I can’t imagine life without Sally,” Sue Egger said.

While Sally has learned to accept her condition, the couple can tell she wants her leg back. A boot-type artificial leg wasn’t good enough, and Egger says he can do better.

“Has it been tried exactly this way? No,” he said. “Has it been done on dogs? No, but we hope we can find a new approach to it.”

Bone will readily accept the titanium implant, Egger says. Titanium is also used in humans for hip replacements. Researchers say the new procedure could eventually be used to help human amputees.

When Sally finishes surgery, at issue will be how soft tissues, like skin and muscle, will grow into the device. Egger is working with a group in Switzerland to build the prosthesis. He is looking to perform Sally’s procedure this year, and says the results should be known this summer.

Animals already with boot-type artificial legs include dogs, cows, llamas and horses. The new approach could help other animals around the world, and even human amputees.

“It will be particularly important in our animals, because there are animals that are missing more than one leg, or missing one leg and having multiple other problems develop,” Egger said.

If the procedure is successful, Sally will be a pioneer –- again operating on four legs.

“It’s amazing how fast she is even with three legs,” Sue Egger said. “Almost as fast as our other dogs.”

Salukis are said to have top speeds of 48 mph, which out paces even greyhounds. The breed is also perhaps the oldest known breed of domesticated canine, with purebreed history tracing back almost 7,000 years to the Tepe Gawra region in present day Iraq.

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