An upcoming show of NBC’s “Today” will feature some of Ohio State’s finest in action.
Dr. David E. Anderson, Associate Professor of Surgery, Food Animal, of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and his colleagues have gained national attention because of their innovative procedure enhancing the quality of life of an amputee kangaroo.
“Because they (kangaroos) are a two-legged species instead of a four-legged one, they wouldn’t be able to survive if one leg was amputated,” Anderson said. “The owners and I weren’t willing to accept that conclusion.”
With the help of Richard Nitsch, a licensed prosthesis orthotist for American Orthopedics, Anderson performed the amputation of the foot in a way that a prosthetic limb could be fitted for Stumpy the kangaroo. The procedure took place two weeks ago and lasted an hour and a half.
Anderson has done eight similar operations since his first in 1993, when he and Nitsch gave an artificial limb to a cow.
Nitsch specializes in prosthetics for athletes but has worked in conjunction with Anderson on a couple occasions to help animals.
“Animals are made of the same things as humans – muscles, skin, and bones. The same engineering and construction went into the design for this prosthetic limb, with very workable results,” Nitsch said.
The artificial limb created for Stumpy has a spring in it and a dressing that has to be changed, similar to one worn by runners who have amputated appendages. The prosthetic foot will allow the kangaroo to live a normal life and have joeys. It would have cost approximately $2,500 but was donated by Nitsch.
Stumpy is a red kangaroo, the largest of all species, from the International Kangaroo Society’s sanctuary located in Lancaster, Ohio.
“She came as an amputee, and we talked with Dr. Anderson and Rick Nitsch and thought it was possible to get a prosthesis for her,” said Tammie Rogers, IKS director.
Rogers and her husband care for and rehabilitate injured macropods from all over the country with the intent to return them home, but Stumpy will live the remainder of her life in the sanctuary.
The “Today” show filmed the operation, fitting of the prosthesis, and Stumpy trying to jump and adapt to the new limb, said Melissa Lamb Peale, spokeswoman for the college of veterinary medicine.
The clip is tentatively set to air today or tomorrow.
