Surgical Guides
Surgical guides assist the veterinary surgeon whilst performing orthopedic procedures. A patient-specific surgical guide gives the veterinary surgeon an accurate and effective tool for cutting bone or drilling. We work closely with vets to understand their surgical planning for each case to create a unique set of guides for each patient.
How do surgical guide systems work?
Surgical guides can be designed for different orthopedic applications, from limb deformity corrections to spinal drill guides. The concept on how they work is similar for all conditions. The images below outline the key steps in using a 3D printed osteotomy guide.
The underside of the guide is formed on the bone during the design stage, ensuring the 3D printed guide is a perfect fit to the patient.
Once the guide is fitted, it is pinned into place. The cut is performed and the surgical guide is then removed.
The reduction guide is then fitted over the pins. The reduction guide holds the distal fragment in the planned position whilst the implant is fixed in place.
Benefits of surgical guides
- 3D printed bone models and surgical guides give the opportunity to rehearse the surgery beforehand, helping with implant selection, placement and profiling.
- 3D printed surgical guide have shown to increase the correction accuracy, particularly the torsional correction.
- They are easier to use and more stable than using a jig.
- Surgical guides reduce the time in surgery, lowering risks for the patient.
Materials
Surgical guides are made from bio compatible 3D printing polymers developed for human medical 3D printing.
- Autoclave sterilisation safe – standard steam sterilisation programs have been validated at 121°C /134°C
- Certified biocompatible to tests:
- Cytotoxicity ISO 10993-5:2009
- Sensitisation ISO 10993-10:2021
- Irritation ISO 10993-23:2021
- Technical Data Sheet (TDS) available.
Surgical 3D - Veterinary 3D Printing 