Gorilla Treated with World's First 3D-Printed Titanium Cast Is Doing Well at Cincinnati Zoo: 'Healing Is Happening'

A young gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo is recovering after having the world’s first 3D-printed titanium cast implanted in her arm.

Gladys, the 11-year-old female who broke her arm last month after falling during a “fight” with two of her siblings, is doing well, the Ohio Zoo reported May 16.

After surgery to repair a distal humerus fracture in her arm, Gladys was placed in a temporary cast on April 19, which was later replaced with a custom titanium cast designed by Colibrium Additive, a GE Aerospace company.

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Gladys wears her temporary cast.

Cincinnati Zoo

This week, the zoo’s veterinary team examined Gladys and found that the cast was “doing what they hoped it would do” and the animal’s broken arm is healing well.

“She tolerated this cast much better than the temporary cast that was placed on her arm during surgery to heal her broken bone,” Cincinnati Zoo primate team leader Ashley Ashcraft said in a statement. “Despite weighing about 8 pounds, she was able to move better than we expected.”

According to the zoo, Ashcraft and the rest of the gorilla care team closely monitored Gladys during her weeks-long recovery. Although he does not currently share space with other gorillas, he can hear and see them.

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“The keepers did a fantastic job keeping Gladys distracted and happy so she could heal, and yesterday’s X-rays show that healing is taking place,” Cincinnati Zoo director of animal health Dr. Mike Wenninger said in a statement. “We will keep her in a cast for a few more weeks. After that, she will demand [physical therapy] but she should be able to use her hand as before.”

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The zoo plans to keep Gladys isolated for several weeks after the cast is removed so she can slowly acclimate and be reintroduced to her group.

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Gladys’ titanium cast.

Cincinnati Zoo

While Gladys was waiting for her titanium cast, the veterinary team helped keep her arm from becoming stiff and losing range of motion by doing range of motion and stretching exercises. “She will work with Gladys to make similar movements on her own after she is out of the cast for good,” said Cincinnati Zoo veterinarian Dr. Jessica Heinz.

In a previous update on April 23, the zoo shared that Gladys was tolerating her titanium cast much better than her temporary cast — despite the heavier weight — noting that gorillas have incredibly strong arms.

“She moved comfortably, carefully and confidently adapting her movements to the cast,” said Victoria McGee, zoological manager of primates at the Cincinnati Zoo. “Prior to the titanium cast, we were very limited in terms of the spaces Gladys could safely be in. With this addition, Gladys can ‘move’ to additional spaces behind the scenes that will allow her more choices and exploration throughout the day.”

Gladys the gorilla.

Cincinnati Zoo

According to Shannon Morman, advanced lead engineer at Colibrium Additive, the titanium casting was printed in less than three days.

“One advantage of 3D printing is the fast turnaround time,” Morman explained in a statement. “After the call on Friday afternoon, our team met over the weekend to come up with initial design ideas. The following Monday, we scanned the original casting to create a 3D model and were ready to start printing the same day. Printing the titanium casting took approx. 65 hours, and we were able to deliver it to the zoo team in less than a week.”

Gladys, who was born in January 2013 at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, moved to the Cincinnati Zoo as a baby and was later placed with surrogate gorilla mother M’Linzi.

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Source: HIS Education