KSU surgeons implant total hip replacement

MANHATTAN, KAN.—Kansas State University (KSU) veterinarians performed the first non-cemented total hip replacement on a dog at the university's veterinary medical teaching hospital.

A 10-year-old Border Collie mix suffering from arthritis received a BioMedtrix implant. Dr. Walter Renberg, assistant professor of small animal orthopedic surgery, performed the surgery, assisted by Dr. James Roush, professor and small animal surgery section head at KSU.

The benefits of the non-cemented implant include less surgical time, lower risk of infection and ease of revision if complications arise, KSU officials say.

"The surgery took about an hour, which is about half the time of the traditional procedure," Roush says. "I was pleased with how smoothly things went for our first one."

The Border Collie, owned by a Topeka veterinarian, was an "ideal candidate" for the surgery considering its size and body type, Renberg adds.