On April 22, 2020, in the Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw, 4 kittens of Wilma and Fred's cheetahs were born. After a few months, it turned out that one of the kittens, and then the another is limping and shows some difficulties in movement. Doctors after routine X-ray examination found that kittens suffer from complicated bone fractures of the paws.

Photo 1. Baby cheetahs. Source: Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw

A decision was made to use a novel therapy, and a complicated operation was performed by Igor Bissenik, vet. PhD together with Agnieszka Czujkowska, DVM PhD- head of the wildlife rehabilitation department at the Warsaw Zoo, both closely cooperating with the Laboratory of Nanostructures IHPP PAS.

Commercially available screws and bonding plates were used to fuse the broken bones. However, as a filling material between the free spaces of bone fragments, a GoHAP™ nanopowder produced in the Laboratory of Nanostructures of the IWC PAN was used.

 

Photo 2. Brave patient, powder dosing during surgery and X-ray control after surgery. Source: Igor Bissenik vet. PhD, Agnieszka Czujkowska DVM, PhD - Municipal Zoological Garden in Warsaw.

Surgery due to the specificity of fractures turned out to be a big clinical challenge. However, following studies after surgery confirmed effective bone regeneration in all kittens. This is yet another clinical success of scientists from our laboratory this year, after the regeneration of broken bones in dogs, domestic cats, and sport horses. We keep our fingers crossed for a quick return of kittens to full fitness!