A groundbreaking medical procedure is helping an injured gorilla named Gladys at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The 11-year-old gorilla broke her arm last month during a scuffle with her siblings. The gorilla was placed in the world’s first 3D-printed titanium cast, designed by GE Aerospace company Colibrium Additive. After one month, veterinarians confirmed that the cast has been working and Gladys tolerated it much better than the temporary cast placed on her arm during surgery. Despite weighing 8 pounds, she has been able to move around better than expected.
Gladys underwent surgery to repair her arm on April 14th and the titanium cast was created to be more gorilla-proof compared to conventional casts. She was closely monitored 24/7 in the first few weeks of her injury and was kept separated from the other gorillas. The Cincinnati Zoo’s director of animal health, Dr. Mike Wenninger, praised the keepers for keeping Gladys distracted and happy during her recovery. X-rays have shown that healing is progressing and she will continue to wear the cast for a few more weeks. After that, she will require physical therapy to regain full use of her arm.
The zoo confirmed that it is not uncommon for gorillas to have altercations with each other, and Gladys’ incident was considered a minor squabble that resulted in a complete, oblique fracture of her distal humerus. The titanium cast was designed to be more durable, made of the same material as the screws and plates used during surgery. The primate team at the Cincinnati Zoo will continue to work with Gladys through stretching and mobility exercises to ensure she can make similar movements once the cast is removed. She will remain separated from her pack and the public for a few weeks after the cast is removed before being reintroduced.
The titanium cast took around 65 hours to print and was delivered to the zoo in under a week, according to Shannon Morman, advanced lead engineer at Colibrium Additive. The cast has been successful in helping Gladys heal, and veterinarians are optimistic about her recovery. Dr. Jessica Heinz and the zoo’s team will continue to work with Gladys on stretching and mobility exercises to ensure she’s able to use her arm normally once the cast is removed. The primate team at the Cincinnati Zoo has done a fantastic job in caring for Gladys during her recovery, and she is making progress in her healing process.
Gladys is expected to remain separated from her pack and the public for a few weeks after the cast is removed before being reintroduced. The team at the Cincinnati Zoo will take things slowly to ensure her transition back into her group is successful. The entire process, from the injury to the surgery and treatment, has been closely monitored and managed by the dedicated team at the zoo. Additionally, they will continue to provide Gladys with the necessary care and support to ensure she makes a full recovery and is able to use her arm like she used to. The groundbreaking use of a 3D-printed titanium cast has played a significant role in helping Gladys heal and regain mobility in her injured arm.
