Thistle, a Nubian goat, has been given a new lease of life after being successfully fitted with a 3D printed prosthetic foot, following severe fractures as a kid.
Thistle was five weeks old when she was first referred to the Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) Equine Referral Hospital, after being born with a suspected deformity. Following a diagnosis of fractured digits by her vet, she was sent to the RVC for further evaluation and treatment.
A CT scan identified an infected fracture with loss of bone congruency, making any surgical fixes impossible. With no way of saving the limb, treatment options included amputation or euthanasia.
Wanting to do everything possible for Thistle, her owner opted for amputation, with the hope of fitting a prosthesis on the distal limb. The procedure was carried out under general anaesthesia, with another CT performed to gauge exact measurements of the stump. Professor Richard Bomphrey of the Structure and Motion Laboratory at the RVC, alongside Dr Perrier, Senior Lecturer in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery at the RVC, and her team designed and manufactured the 3D printed prosthetic foot.
Thistle recovered well from the amputation and returned to the RVC three weeks later to have her stitches removed and the new prosthetic limb fitted. Her little ‘ski boot’ had Velcro straps and a threaded bolt was inserted at the bottom to allow for adjustments in height as she grows. Several modifications were made to the design of the prosthesis over the course of her stay to make it more comfortable and, in particular, easier for her to lay down.
Melanie Perrier, Senior Lecturer in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery at the RVC said: “Thistle's progress and her initial response to the prosthesis are very encouraging. While she initially only used the prosthesis for a few steps, after a few days she was mostly weight-bearing on it and showing a more natural gait.
“She will wear her prosthetic for a little longer each day and undergo regular physiotherapy exercises. She will only wear the prosthesis for a few hours daily to start with so she can get accustomed to it gently, and this will be increased over the following weeks and months so that ultimately, she can wear her prosthesis throughout the day.”
Debbie Dale, Thistle’s owner, said: “I have always been very attached to having goats. Thistle was a twin and had some ligament issues from birth. We don’t know what caused the injury to her foot. Initial assessments were pointing towards having her having no option other than being put to sleep due to the extreme extent of the amputation she needed.
“I was convinced that due to her being so young and so well in every other way – that we needed to explore prosthetics as an alternative. Luckily, my vet agreed and referred us to the RVC where I met Melanie and the team. Thistle’s mum was allowed to come to the appointment as Thistle was still feeding from her at the time. The RVC team thoroughly investigated our options – even contacting other vet specialists in America before we ended up having the 3D printed prosthetic leg fitted. I am over the moon with Thistle’s progress. She’s back to her agile self – even bullying her brothers!”
Thistle has been given physiotherapy exercises by the team at the RVC to help her use the limb and develop her proprioception and musculature. She will need to be continually monitored for pressure sores as she grows, but it looks as though this kid is taking it all in her stride.
