Successful use of a 3D-printed surgical guide to facilitate transiliosacral fixation in a cat with bilateral sacroiliac luxation

Abstract

Case summary: A 7-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat was presented for treatment of a bilateral sacroiliac luxation (SIL). CT was performed and the data were extracted in a stereolithography (STL) file, after which a 3D-printed drill guide (3DPDG) was devised, using computer-aided design (CAD) software, and printed. Using an open surgical approach, the guide was used as an aid for drilling the sacrum. The ilial wings were drilled free-hand later and a transiliosacral pin (TP) was inserted to realign and stabilise the SIL. The cat exhibited an early return to normal limb function and a CT scan performed at the postoperative follow-up showed early signs of bone remodelling at the sacroiliac joint. Relevance and novel information: To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report using a 3DPDG for implant placement in the feline sacrum without intraoperative imaging.