Member Blog: Leg up for limping lizard
Brace yourselves because this story has got legs.
A Bearded Dragon called Ned, who has a sore leg, is receiving state-of-the-art treatment at Healesville Sanctuary, as vets use 3D printing to step up his care.
Attentive zookeepers noticed Ned was dragging his right leg. X-rays and a closer examination showed he had injured toes and nerve damage. He needed regular bandage changes, but his habitat made it hard to keep the bandages clean.
For the first time, the team used technology to make a 3D model of Ned’s tiny leg and a custom splint. The aim was to reduce bandage changes and make Ned more comfortable.
Healesville Sanctuary Vet Nurse Chris Stitt said they trialled four different splints over a couple of months.
“The challenge was making the splint strong enough so Ned could put pressure down and keep his foot from bending. We needed a solution that would specifically fit him.”
The team spent an hour scanning Ned’s leg to capture every bump and curve, before 3D printing the replica leg and creating a splint made of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), a strong and rubber-like material. Thin, malleable wire provides additional support. This work is possible thanks to engineer Girius Antanaitis from GA Medical who create custom surgical and veterinary equipment.
The new splint helps Ned move more easily, climb logs, bask in the warmth up high and catch live prey such as insects. Ned will continue to wear the splint for ongoing support. His team of carers will also monitor his ongoing welfare and condition.
“Ned is a cool lizard. He’s very chill. He’s very good at all his appointments. He’s quite happy to sit on the X-Ray plate. He’s one of the easiest patients to work with,” Chris said.
“I think it’s amazing that we can make this animal’s life better, so he can put his best foot forward while trialling new innovations and ideas.”
