Clinique de Grosbois, a veterinary clinic on the outskirts of Paris, France, specializes in treating horses that have been injured in horse racing. The most common injuries they treat are neck fractures and vertebral fractures caused by falls. Although in many cases traditional techniques such as compression screws, dorsal laminectomy, and ventral cervical fusion can be used to treat horses, more severe injuries in the past have resulted in animals being euthanized.

Eager to find another solution and save the lives of injured racehorses, Dr. Fabrice Rossignol and his clinic team turned to 3D printing to improve the treatment of horses’ neck and spine fractures. The investigation began as early as 2017, when Dr. Rossignol, surgeon Dr. Martin Genton and third-year resident Ariana Campos set out to find partners specializing in metal additive manufacturing. 3D Medical is the leading metal AM service organization in France. It is conveniently located just a few kilometers from the veterinary clinic, thus forming a natural partnership.

"Although I made a very professional request in a very professional field, Vincent [Nuttens, CEO of 3D Medical] and his team agreed without hesitation to support us in the experimental phase, invest in research, and finally develop The final metal is the additive solution we have today. Like me, he is passionate about innovation and long-term investment," Rossignol explained.

"After talking to Fabrice and hearing that the injured horse lacked a satisfactory solution, I knew we would be able to find a way to use additives," Nattens added. "We finally got a new type of prosthesis that can improve healing and is expected to actively improve the prognosis of as many animals as possible."

Thanks to metal 3D printing, veterinary clinics are now adopting a new method when treating neck and vertebral fractures. First, the racehorse is anesthetized and placed on a surgical hammock to keep the animal still. The 3D printed board and the 3D printed cancellous screws that connect the vertebrae can then be used to stabilize the fracture. If the vertebrae are injured, the surgeon can also implant a small 3D printed titanium cage in the abdominal disc space. These implants were manufactured by 3D Medical using GE Additive Mlab 3D printers.

According to partners, 3D printed titanium intervertebral spacers use compressive force to maintain the distance between horse vertebrae, thereby preventing disc herniation in the medullary canal and displacement of the tail vertebrae. Titanium is the material of choice because it promotes natural osseointegration better than other metals such as steel. AM also supports this process by integrating porous geometries in the device.

The 3D printed metal screws are also self-tapping and partially self-drilling, which allows the maximum amount of anchoring while also minimizing the risk of perforation. As Rossignol summarized: "The three major characteristics and advantages of metal 3D implants are the accuracy of their custom printing, their resistance to force and weight (the weight of horses is significantly greater than that of humans), and the mobility of animals after surgery. "

So far, procedures using 3D printing equipment have been largely successful, with almost no complications. After the operation, the horse was left in the stable to recover for a month, requiring very little exercise. From there, they can first recover through walking, walkers and paddock. The clinic said that it takes about five to eight months to fully recover. After clinical and radiological examinations, the horses will be cleared.

Thanks to the cooperation with the veterinary clinic, 3D Medical also assists in the treatment of horses outside of France. According to Nuttens, his company is now selling 3D printed medical equipment for horse racing in Switzerland, Australia and the United States. Despite entering the animal world, 3D Medical's main business is still focused on human osseointegration, including the production of orthopedic plants.

This market research by 3dpbm Research provides an in-depth analysis and forecast of the ceramic additive market.

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