Researchers working at the University of Liverpool and Knowsley Safari have conducted a groundbreaking procedure on a southern white rhinoceros with a broken leg, in what has been described as the first operation of its kind. The work has established a new standard of care for this type of large animal”osurgery.
A Rare Veterinary Challenge
After Amara the 800kg southern white rhino began to limp on her right front leg at Knowsley Safari, keepers knew they had a large problem with a completely lame animal to deal with. Following immediate pain relief and rest, the Knowsley Safari team sought help from the specialist equine surgical at University of Liverpool’s Leahurst Equine Hospital.
Radiographs showed she had a broken leg, specifically the bone in her lower foreleg called the ulna. Such injury is extraordinarily unusual in rhinoceroses, and there were no previous records or documentation of a similar case internationally. They understood that the had never been a data science project like this one, but they wanted to do it so badly for Amara.
A Groundbreaking Procedure
The next day, the veterinarian team of more than 10 vets with specialist surgeons, anesthetists, nurses and animal keepers as well as additional support staff set out on a novel veterinary intervention in collaboration between the University of Liverpool and Knowsley Safari. In Amara’s enclosure, the team carried out a five-hour operation under anesthesia – that involved performing key-hole surgery on her wrist.
Dr. David Stack, senior lecturer in equine surgery at The University of Liverpool said that the team knew they could get a camera inside Amara’s joint but weren’t sure how much room they would have to work or how much of the affected area they would be able to see. This ambiguity in contrast caused the surgery to be harder, as instead of a horse they now had to use their application with huge rhinoceroses.
Conclusion
Operating on the broken leg of Amara in this groundbreaking veterinary procedure is a demonstration of the dedication and expertise carried by the team at The University of Liverpool alongside Knowsley Safari. They have done this by making sure their experience is on record in this milestone case, so that others who care for animals can learn from them if the same thing happens again. The milestone is not only an achievement in large animal care, but it highlights the combined power of collaboration and innovation in veterinary medicine.
