Noel Fitzpatrick
Encyclopedia
Noel Fitzpatickis an Irish
neuro-orthopaedic veterinary surgeon and a pioneer of bionic development in animals. He currently operates a multi-million pound practice of some 65 employees, named Fitzpatrick Referrals, in Eashing
, Surrey
, England
. In 2009 he became the first surgeon in the world to bioengineer two bionic feet and successfully administer them to a cat named Oscar
from Jersey
who had lost both its feet in an accident with a combine harvester.
in 1970. He grew up on a farm and developed a love of animals from a young age. The day that the family failed to save a baby lamb from death gave Fitzpatrick a purpose in life; to become a veterinarian.
Fitzpatrick qualified as a veterinary surgeon from University College Dublin
in 1990, a received scholarships at the University of Pennsylvania
and the University of Ghent. He spent periods at several universities in the UK and US, attaining certificates in small animal orthopaedics and radiology.
In 2008 Fitzpatrick was appointed the position of Assistant Professor at the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Surrey
for his contribution to medical science.
. He claims to have got the idea of the bionic feet attached with steel rods from the character of Wolverine
in the original X Men film
. He used this novel idea to provide a solution to a Labrador
dog plagued with crippling arthritis
. As in the case with Oscar the Cat, Fitzpatrick bioengineered in collaboration with the University College London
steel rods coated with hydroxyapatite which were attached to the ankle joints of the cat. They were administered in such a way that it encourages the bone cells and skin to grow onto the rods and then create a resilient seal to prevent it from any infection. This is unique in that if such rods were administered to a human, the body would reject the steel and infection would almost certainly follow. Although the operation carried out by Noel Fitzpatrick was a world first, it mimics a natural process, being similar to the way deer grow antler bones, in the manner that the implants grow through the skin. It is known as intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics (ITAPs) and were developed by the head of University College London's Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Gordon Blunn and colleagues. This ITAP technology is currently being tested on humans and a prosthetic has been made for a woman injured in the July 2005 London bombings
. Fitzpatrick has stated that he would welcome a collaborative approach with other surgeons working on human amputations.
Fitzpatrick also treated an American bulldog
named Roly from Hampshire
who became the first dog in the world to be fitted with an artificial hip, specially designed to "sandwich" muscle with metal to restore full mobility. He was also once hired by Chris Evans to help his German Shepherd dog Enzo who had two herniated discs in his spine, leaving him paralysed and in pain. Fitzpatrick performed a £5,000 procedure on the nine-year-old dog and inserted two bolts in the middle of his spine to fuse two vertebrae, although the dog had to be put down the following year, as it was experiencing pain.
Fitzpatrick currently appears in the series The Bionic Vet
, aired on BBC 1.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
neuro-orthopaedic veterinary surgeon and a pioneer of bionic development in animals. He currently operates a multi-million pound practice of some 65 employees, named Fitzpatrick Referrals, in Eashing
Eashing
Eashing is a small village in Surrey a couple of miles outside Godalming and was once part of the Godalming but is now administered by Guildford Borough Council. The village is divided into Upper and Lower Eashing. During the reign of King Alfred the Great a burgh was constructed at Upper Eashing...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 2009 he became the first surgeon in the world to bioengineer two bionic feet and successfully administer them to a cat named Oscar
Oscar (bionic cat)
Oscar is a cat, owned by Kate Allan and Mike Nolan, who lives on the Channel Island of Jersey. In 2009 Oscar had both hind paws severed by a combine harvester. Since then he has undergone a pioneering operation to add prosthetic feet...
from Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
who had lost both its feet in an accident with a combine harvester.
Biography
Fitzpatrick was born in IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
in 1970. He grew up on a farm and developed a love of animals from a young age. The day that the family failed to save a baby lamb from death gave Fitzpatrick a purpose in life; to become a veterinarian.
Fitzpatrick qualified as a veterinary surgeon from University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
in 1990, a received scholarships at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and the University of Ghent. He spent periods at several universities in the UK and US, attaining certificates in small animal orthopaedics and radiology.
In 2008 Fitzpatrick was appointed the position of Assistant Professor at the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
for his contribution to medical science.
Biotechnological pioneering
Fitzpatrick is a pioneer in his field, administering biotechnology to animals. He has developed many novel techniques and technologies to save his animal patients from being put downAnimal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
. He claims to have got the idea of the bionic feet attached with steel rods from the character of Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
in the original X Men film
X-Men (film)
X-Men is a 2000 superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics characters of the same name. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film stars Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Famke Janssen, Bruce Davison, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn, Ray Park and Tyler Mane...
. He used this novel idea to provide a solution to a Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
dog plagued with crippling arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
. As in the case with Oscar the Cat, Fitzpatrick bioengineered in collaboration with the University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
steel rods coated with hydroxyapatite which were attached to the ankle joints of the cat. They were administered in such a way that it encourages the bone cells and skin to grow onto the rods and then create a resilient seal to prevent it from any infection. This is unique in that if such rods were administered to a human, the body would reject the steel and infection would almost certainly follow. Although the operation carried out by Noel Fitzpatrick was a world first, it mimics a natural process, being similar to the way deer grow antler bones, in the manner that the implants grow through the skin. It is known as intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics (ITAPs) and were developed by the head of University College London's Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Gordon Blunn and colleagues. This ITAP technology is currently being tested on humans and a prosthetic has been made for a woman injured in the July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
. Fitzpatrick has stated that he would welcome a collaborative approach with other surgeons working on human amputations.
Fitzpatrick also treated an American bulldog
American Bulldog
The American Bulldog is a breed of working dog that was developed in the United States. There are generally considered to be three types of American bulldog: the Bully or Classic type , the Standard or Performance type , and the Hybrid type...
named Roly from Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
who became the first dog in the world to be fitted with an artificial hip, specially designed to "sandwich" muscle with metal to restore full mobility. He was also once hired by Chris Evans to help his German Shepherd dog Enzo who had two herniated discs in his spine, leaving him paralysed and in pain. Fitzpatrick performed a £5,000 procedure on the nine-year-old dog and inserted two bolts in the middle of his spine to fuse two vertebrae, although the dog had to be put down the following year, as it was experiencing pain.
Fitzpatrick currently appears in the series The Bionic Vet
The Bionic Vet
The Bionic Vet is a BBC documentary television series following the work of vet Noel Fitzpatrick. The show details the Fitzpatrick's multimillion pound revolutionary vet practice in Surrey. The surgery itself contains state of the art equipment and methods including hydrotherapists, radiographers...
, aired on BBC 1.
Publications
- Fitzpatrick N and Yeadon R: Algorithm for treatment of developmental diseases of the medial elbow in dogs. Irish Veterinary Journal 61(6): 398-401, 2008
- Fitzpatrick N, Lewis D, Cross A: A biomechanical comparison of external skeletal fixation and plating for the stabilization of ilial osteotomies in dogs. Veterinary Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology 21(4): 349-357, 2008
- Fitzpatrick N, Smith TJ, O'Riordan J, Yeadon R: Treatment of incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle with autogenous bone grafting techniques. Veterinary Surgery 38(2): 173-184, 2009
- Fitzpatrick N, Smith TJ, Evans RB, Yeadon R: Radiographic and arthroscopic findings in the elbow joints of 263 dogs with medial coronoid disease. Veterinary Surgery 38(2): 213-223, 2009
- Fitzpatrick N, Smith TJ, Evans RB, O'Riordan J, Yeadon R: Subtotal coronoid ostectomy for treatment of medial coronoid disease in 263 dogs. Veterinary Surgery 38(2): 233-245, 2009
- Fitzpatrick N, Yeadon R, Smith TJ: Early clinical experience with osteochondral autograft transfer for treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the medial humeral condyle in dogs. Veterinary Surgery 38(2): 246-60, 2009
- Fitzpatrick N, Yeadon R, Smith T, Schulz K: Techniques of application and initial clinical experience with sliding humeral osteotomy for treatment of medial compartment disease of the canine elbow. Veterinary Surgery 38(2):261-278, 2009
- Fitzpatrick N, Yeadon R: Working algorithm for treatment decision making for developmental disease of the medial compartment of the elbow in dogs. Veterinary Surgery 38(2): 285-300, 2009
- Smith TJ, Fitzpatrick N, Evans RB, Pead MJ: Measurement of ulnar subtrochlear sclerosis using a percentage scale in labrador retrievers with minimal radiographic signs of periarticular osteophytosis. Veterinary Surgery 38(2): 199-208, 2009
- Smith TJ, Fitzpatrick N: Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy in an alpaca. Veterinary Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology. Accepted for publication March 2009.
- Fitzpatrick N, Solano MA: Predictive Variables for Complications following TPLO with stifle inspection by arthrotomy in 1000 consecutive dogs. Veterinary Surgery Accepted for publication Jan 2010
- Fitzpatrick N, Johnson J, Hayashi K, Girling S, Yeadon R: Tibial Plateau Leveling and Medial Opening Crescentic Osteotomy (TPLMOCO) for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs with tibia vara. Veterinary Surgery Accepted for publication Jan 2010
- Perry K, Fitzpatrick N, Johnson J, Yeadon R: Headless Self-Compressing Cannulated Screw Fixation for Treatment of Radial Carpal Bone Fracture/Fissure in dogs. Veterinary Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology. Accepted for publication Dec 2010
- Burton NJ, Perry MJ, Fitzpatrick N, Owen MR:Comparison of bone mineral density in medial coronoid processes of dogs with and without medial coronoid process fragmentation. AJVR, Vol 71, No. 1, January 2010.
- Danielson KC, Fitzpatrick N, Muir P, Manley PA: Histomorphometry of fragmented medial coronoid process in dogs: a comparison of affected and normal coronoid processes. Veterinary Surgery 35(6): 501-509, 2006
- Innes J, Pettitt R, Comerford E, Fitzpatrick N: Total knee replacement for dogs (Letter to the editor). Veterinary Record 160(9): 312, 2007
- Kirkby KA, Lewis DD, Lafuente MP, Radasch RM, Fitzpatrick N, Farese JP, Wheeler JL, Hernandez JA: Management of humeral and femoral fractures in dogs and cats with linear- circular hybrid external skeletal fixators. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 44(4): 180-197, 2008
- Clements DN, Fitzpatrick N, Carter SD, Day PJ: Cartilage gene expression correlates with radiographic severity of canine elbow osteoarthritis. Veterinary Journal 179(2):211-218, 2009
- Smith TJ, Fitzpatrick N: Surgical removal of a microchip from a puppy's spinal canal. Veterinary Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology 22(1): 63-65, 2009