Digitalisation of canine elbow disease surgery

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The project will create a successful surgical treatment and digital workflow for canine elbow dysplasia (CED). CED covers numerous pathologies and deformities causing severe pain and arthritis. Many breeds of dog are predisposed to CED, such as Labrador, Golden retrievers, Rottweilers, German Shepherd Dogs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Newfoundland and Basset Hounds.Although most treatments are conservative and minimise pain by using weight control, exercise moderation, anti-inflammatories and painkillers, surgical intervention is required in 30% of cases with arthroscopic debridement, load transfer and partial/total elbow replacement being the remedies.Surgical complications are high in comparison to similar operations on humans, this disparity between the treatment of animals and humans needs to be addressed.The project builds on award-winning UoL research (Leslie Vaughan Prize 2022) undertaken by Fusion Implants in which the science and engineering of CED were studied and custom implant concepts developed. In this project, Fusion Implants will digitalise the PhD results enhancing and automating workflows from data capture to theatre, leading to simplified, more rapid and effective surgeries.The technological challenge is to create a value chain whereby digital technologies, digital goniometry, CT-based stratification, algorithm development and 3D print implant/instrument manufacture are combined into a single workflow which advances treatment, accelerates diagnosis, and surgery, improving outcomes for patients.