Pioneering the Future: Australia’s First Bionic Limb Procedures

This groundbreaking journey involves Alithia and Bella - two dogs with vastly different histories but the same need for a revolutionary solution.

Alithia: A Lifetime of Waiting Alithia, a one-year-old German Shepherd, faced adversity from the moment she was born. Born in a breech position, her birth was complicated and traumatic. During the labour, her mother attempted to pull her out, inadvertently chewing Alithia’s foot so severely that it was lost shortly after birth.

Throughout her first year of life, Alithia learned to navigate the world on three legs. While she occasionally rested on her shorter hind limb, she never truly utilised it for movement. Most would have recommended a full amputation, but Alithia’s owner held onto a vision for the future, opting to save the partial limb in the hope that technology would one day provide a functional solution.

Bella: A Sudden Turn of Events. Bella’s story began with a common accident that took a tragic turn. After cutting her rear right foot during a walk, she received standard veterinary care, including surgical staples and bandaging. However, external complications led to a catastrophic lack of circulation. Gangrene developed, leaving no choice but to remove the foot.

Because Bella was so young, the VSOS team discussed a bold alternative to traditional full-leg amputation: a partial limb amputation followed by the placement of a bionic foot. Her owners bravely elected for this experimental path, marking the start of a weeks-long preparation process.

This procedure was made possible through a unique collaboration with Professor Munjed Al Muderis, a world-renowned human orthopaedic surgeon and a global pioneer in osseointegration technology.

To prepare for the groundbreaking surgery, our team utilised advanced imaging and meticulous site preparation:

• Custom Implant Design: Detailed CAT scans were performed for both dogs to design and build titanium implants that would fit perfectly within their respective bone structures.

• 4th Generation Technology: The implants used are the latest evolution in osseointegration devices, featuring high-tensile titanium that mimics the structural integrity of natural bone.

• Soft Tissue Management: For Bella, the process involved weeks of specialised bandaging to create a healthy "skin-bone interface" that would allow the skin to heal directly onto the prosthesis, creating a seal to reduce the risk of infection.

A "one-size-fits-all" approach does not work in the world of bionics. Each dog’s natural posture and gait had to be factored into the engineering of their new limbs.

The Shepherd Challenge: As a German Shepherd, Alithia possesses a naturally crouched posture with a low hind-limb stance. She walks with her leg bent at a 40 - 45 degree angle, which is significantly different from most breeds. Our surgeons had to accommodate these angles into the design of her prosthetic foot to ensure she could apply pressure comfortably during her highly active and energetic bursts of play.

The Upright Advantage Bella, by contrast, has a much more upright stance. Her foot design could be more conventional, resembling that of a typical canine foot. Furthermore, because Bella had a functional leg for years before her injury, her brain was already "wired" for four-legged movement, allowing her to adapt to her new bionic limb with remarkable speed.

The success of a bionic limb isn't just in the surgery; it's in the rehabilitation.

For Alithia, the challenge was unlearning a year of habit. Initially, she continued to plant her left hind limb centrally (a common compensation for three-legged dogs), which interfered with the new movement of her right side. However, she is an incredibly fast learner. She quickly adapted her gait, placing her left limb with more distance to make room for her functional fourth leg, and her progress improves every single week.

Bella returned for her bionic surgery a few months after her initial amputation and is already walking very well on her new leg. Watching her move with confidence is a testament to the resilience of our patients and the precision of the technology.

At VSOS, we are defined by our philosophy of going "Beyond Possible." We believe that for every patient, there is a solution waiting to be discovered, even when a case feels insurmountable.

Our goal is to improve the standard of veterinary medicine so that these life-changing procedures can eventually help more than just one or two dogs. Whether it is collaborating with world-leading human surgeons or utilising 3D-printed titanium implants, our team is driven by the belief that anything is possible. We don't just treat conditions; we commit to finding a path forward for every pet and every family that walks through our doors, ensuring that every "bionic" step taken is a step toward a better life.