[First clinical experiences with a new cementless knee endoprosthesis for the dog]

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Orthopedics
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Severe gonarthritis significantly impacts canine mobility and quality of life.
• Existing treatments may not fully address advanced knee joint degeneration in dogs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical application and initial outcomes of a novel cementless knee endoprosthesis in dogs.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of the GenuSys knee implant for treating severe canine gonarthritis.

Main Methods:

• Implantation of the cementless GenuSys mobile bearing prosthesis in 23 knees of 22 dogs (28-55 kg, 5-12 years old) with severe gonarthritis.
• The prosthesis requires additional screw fixation for the femoral component and is available in four standard sizes.

Main Results:

• 72.7% of dogs demonstrated improved weightbearing or only mild lameness post-surgery.
• Complications occurred in 10 cases (45.5%), including subluxation (27.3%), wound infection (13.6%), and decreased range of motion (4.5%).
• Four dogs with complications were successfully reoperated, while six underwent euthanasia or arthrodesis.

Conclusions:

• The cementless knee endoprosthesis led to significantly improved weightbearing and quality of life in 72.2% of treated dogs.
• While the initial complication rate was high, future improvements in surgical technique and equipment are anticipated.
• Long-term studies are necessary to definitively assess the overall success and durability of this canine knee implant.