NC State to Offer New Uncemented Hip Replacements for Small Dogs and Cats

A border collie named The Tick and seven other dogs were competing in the fast-paced sport of flyball, taking turns in relay teams of four sprinting down a course, jumping hurdles, grabbing a tennis ball and then returning the 51 feet over hurdles to the start.

The College of Veterinary Medicine has been a pioneer in Total Hip Replacement — a life-changing procedure — for medium- to large-sized dogs with hip pain or injury, and now Dr.

David Knazovicky will learn to use newly available implants to help tinier pets in pain.

A deep sense of satisfaction about his choice to become a small animal orthopedic surgeon spread through Dr.

David Knazovicky as he viewed a video that recently arrived in his email inbox unexpectedly.

That Knazovicky had replaced The Tick’s hip at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine less than a year ago made the dog seem like a miracle in motion.

“After the surgery, we see these dogs walk, put weight on the leg the next day, and of course they are still in pain from the procedure, but later on you can see that for these dogs, it really takes the pain away,” he says.

“We don’t always get to see them this far after, so this was an amazing surprise.” Knazovicky, who anticipated a career as a pain researcher when arrived at NC State in 2012, estimates that he’s performed nearly 200 uncemented hip replacement surgeries on medium to large dogs throughout his training and practice.

Now, Biomedtrix, maker of the press-fit implant system used at NC State, is making implants available for cats and miniature dogs, too, and Knazovicky is one of the first in line for training.

Offering state-of-the-art care to its clients is a pillar of the NC State Veterinary Hospital, which also is investing in the smaller surgical instruments required.

“This next level of ability also could lead to replacing other joints in cats and dogs,” says Dr.

The report adds to ongoing university-led research relevant to veterinary medicine, animal health, and clinical decision-making.

Source university website: NC State College of Veterinary Medicine

https://cvm.ncsu.edu/news/nc-state-to-offer-new-uncemented-hip-replacements-for-small-dogs-cats/