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Local Orthopedic Team Mends Chimpanzee's Broken Leg

Thu Feb 19, 2009

 

Dr. Ed Morgan of Mid South Orthopedics never had a request to repair a chimpanzee’s leg before.  But when Chimp Haven Board Member Candy Peavy asked for his help, he quickly put together a team of orthopedic specialists ready for the challenge.  Juan, a 41 year old chimpanzee living at Chimp Haven, broke his femur and required surgery.  The Chimp Haven staff sought a physician who could not only repair Juan’s leg, but deal with a patient not likely to follow post-surgical orders.

 
Last Thursday evening, Dr. Morgan and Chimp Haven Veterinarian Dr. Carolyn McKinnie orchestrated a gathering of medical professionals to perform the complicated surgical procedure required to mend Juan’s leg.  Orthopedic surgery coordinators Chris Gras, RN from CHRISTUS Schumpert Highland and Marie Francis, RN of CHRISTUS Schumpert St. Mary Place, assisted with the procedures.  Dr. Shane Barton of Mid South Orthopedics was also on hand.  Brock Restovich of Synthes not only assisted, but his company donated the surgical materials and equipment.   Dr. McKinnie and veterinary technician Jennifer Best monitored Juan throughout the procedure.
 
 The surgery, taking over two hours to complete, involved placement of a titanium rod implant to repair the spiral fracture.  Juan has recovered well and is getting accustomed to having a cast on his leg.   Because chimpanzees put a lot of wear and tear on a cast, Drs. Morgan and McKinnie will be replacing it once a week.
 
 “Chimpanzees have dense, thick bones and fractures are very uncommon; so, we are puzzled how Juan managed to injure himself,” observes Chimp Haven Veterinarian Dr. Carolyn McKinnie. “We are pleased that Juan responded well to the surgery and expect him to fully recover the function of his leg.”
 
 Dr. Linda Brent, Chimp Haven President and Director, says, “This is but another example of the Shreveport-Bossier community’s incredible support for Chimp Haven.  We are very grateful to all those who helped Juan.”   In addition to the time and materials donated by the medical professionals, Mobile X-Ray provided radiographs.   
 

 Like most chimpanzees at Chimp Haven, Juan was retired from serving in biomedical research.  He was one of the first to arrive at the sanctuary in April, 2005 and has been living in a large social group with access to the facility’s five-acre, wooded habitat.
 
 Dr. Morgan sums the reason for his quick response to last week’s plea for help on behalf of Juan.  “This type of fracture is a serious injury, and it needed to be treated quickly.  We’re all happy to do everything we can for the animals at Chimp Haven.”