Sue and Graeme arrive at Fitzpatrick’s with bouncy Bertie, their seven-month-old fox red Labrador puppy, who despite his youth is suffering from lameness, caused by a joint defect called Osteochondritis Dissecans. Graham, an orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon himself is all too familiar with implants for humans affected by the same condition and discusses with Noel whether this is an option for Bertie, where a custom-made 3D printed super-smooth ridge is used to fill the defect in the talus, which is the main articulating bone in Bertie’s ankle joint. Graham and Sue have a tough decision. “You’re here in time, but only just” says Noel. He explains that they can give medicine and see how things go, but that in the end they may end up with a complete ankle replacement or a joint fusion on both sides.
