Bertie, Jade & Sophie

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.

Jade, a beautiful two-and-a-half-year-old short-haired domestic cat comes to Fitzpatrick’s, also with a knee problem. Jo has rescued and found new homes for scores of cats, but Jade proved harder to rehome because of her deformed back leg, so Jo decided to keep her as part of her own eight-strong cat family. Jo has already discussed with Noel the various options available including pain relief and limb amputation but has decided to go for a custom total knee replacement, a procedure unique to Fitzpatrick’s. But this will be a far from routine surgery because of the severity of Jade’s deformity, and beyond that, she will also face intensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to stretch the contracted muscles in her leg. Jo and Noel both want to do the very best they can for Jade, but time will tell.

Jo has travelled 400 miles to bring her beloved four-year-old English Springer Spaniel Sophie to see Noel. Sophie’s kneecap keeps slipping in and out of her knee joint, as well as a cruciate ligament rupture, problems that are seriously affecting her joining in the fun with Jo’s two other family Spaniels. Despite several previous procedures, Sophie's problems persist, and after an examination by Noel, Jo faces the further worry of osteoarthritis affecting Sophie’s right elbow. Jo is determined to see Sophie active and healthy again, but they are both reluctant to leave each other’s sides. Jo explains, “She’s had three surgeries already, and her time away from me has made her even more clingy.”