THE GOTTINGEN MINIPIG - A NEW ANIMAL-MODE L FOR TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT

The Gottingen mini swine is a good experimental animal. The electrolyt es and the bone healing rate is comparable to human. The weight of the animals should be 30-45 kg. All surgery is performed under endotrache al general anaesthesia without any complication. There is minimal bloo dless because blood pressure is only 40/80 mmHg. We used the anterolat eral approach. The feature peculiarity of this animal modell are: 1. S kin incision should start 10 cm cranial to the tail and should be curv ed. 2. The osteotomy of the head is V-shaped in maximal external rotat ion. 3. The acetabulum is prepared with a 23.5 mm reamer. 4. The stem should be implanted first. After complesion of the preliminary testope rations, 10 animals were operated in the described standard manner. Du ring one year follow-up there was only one radiological cup-loosening. The GMS is a simple animal modell for THR which could replace the dog or the sheep.