Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Military dog with severe head trauma treated using 3D-printed bone
By Babenko T et al.·2025·Department of Neurology·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Novel approach to a severe craniomaxillofacial trauma in a military working dog using a customized 3D-printed mold for printed polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plate-a case report.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old Belgian Malinois suffered severe head trauma during combat, leading to facial deformities, breathing problems, and neurological signs. A CT scan showed multiple fractures in the skull and complications like air in the brain. The veterinary team first stabilized the dog with a tracheostomy to help with breathing and then performed surgery to clean the wounds and close the frontal sinus. In a second surgery, they used a custom 3D-printed plate to reconstruct the damaged frontal bone. This innovative approach helped restore the dog's skull integrity and improve its overall condition.
People also search for: dog head trauma treatment · Belgian Malinois skull fracture surgery · 3D-printed plate for dog surgery
Abstract
<h4>Objective</h4>To describe a novel two-stage surgical approach for managing complex craniomaxillofacial trauma in a military working dog, including the use of an individualized 3D-printed polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plate for frontal bone reconstruction.<h4>Case summary</h4>A 3-year-old Belgian Malinois sustained severe head trauma during combat. Clinical examination revealed facial deformation, respiratory distress, and neurological signs. computerized tomography (CT) imaging confirmed multiple fractures, including the frontal and nasal bones, cribriform plate, and frontal sinus, with pneumocephalus. A two-stage approach was employed: (1) Initial stabilization, including a tracheostomy to address respiratory issues and manage intracranial pressure, along with surgical debridement and closure of the frontal sinus. (2) Reconstruction using an individualized 3D-PMMA plate using a customized 3D-printed mold to restore frontal bone integrity.<h4>New or unique information provided</h4>This report presents a novel approach to managing complex craniomaxillofacial trauma in dogs, particularly those involving extensive frontal sinus and nasal bone fractures with intracranial complications. The use of an individualized 3D- PMMA plate for frontal bone reconstruction represents a significant advancement in veterinary CMF trauma management, offering a potential solution for achieving both functional and cosmetic outcomes in challenging cases. This case contributes to the limited existing literature on the management of severe frontal sinus fractures in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41473111