Swiss engineer travels to Helena for dog surgery

HELENA – A dog named Tommy got a total hip replacement here, under the supervision of a Swiss engineer who helped design a new type of artificial hip.

Tommy is one of only about 3,500 dogs worldwide to receive what’s known as the Zurich hip, a titanium joint requiring no cement.

Slobodan Tepic, an engineer from the University of Zurich who helped develop the joint, oversaw the procedure performed Wednesday at Companion Animal Hospital.

Tepic said the joint is pressure-fitted and applied with screws. Over time, bone grows into the artificial hip.