In the veterinary world, MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine has led the way in the research and application of joint replacement surgery for companion animals. Dogs and cats, just like people, enjoy the pain relief and renewed range of motion provided by continued improvement in joint replacements.
The more recent orthopedic advances combine design of new implants, refinement of surgical techniques, and advanced engineering.
As the head of small animal orthopedic surgery, Déjardin has positioned MSU as the first academic institution in the world to offer cementless elbow prostheses. “Joint replacements are highly technical procedures,” Déjardin explained. “It’s a combination of state-of-the-art implant design, comprehensive preoperative planning, and meticulous surgical techniques. We work collaboratively with fellow orthopedic surgeons, engineers, industrial partners—including BioMedtrix—as well as research foundations to improve our understanding of joint mechanics, refine implant design, and thus optimize our clinical success.”
Déjardin routinely uses CT-based, 3D-printed bone models for preoperative planning, rehearsal of complex procedures, resident training, and/or design of new implants.
Today, MSU is the only academic institution in the United States that offers a comprehensive total joint replacement program for all major joints—hips, elbows, and knees—with ankle replacement also available. Déjardin is among a long line of clinical scientists who have made dramatic strides to build a legacy of innovation in this complex, ever-evolving field.
