In world first, injured hornbill gets 3D-printed upper and lower beak prostheses at Amsterdam zoo

An injured southern ground hornbill at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam has received two custom-made, 3D-printed prostheses to replace the broken upper and lower parts of its beak. In what is believed to be a world-first procedure, the bird began using its new beak on the day of surgery.A hornbill with a broken beak received 3D-printed replacements and began using them on the day of surgery. (Instagram/artis.amsterdam)(Also read: ‘This is Europe?’: Indian woman questions ‘civic sense’ after spotting litter in Amsterdam)According to a report NL Times, the innovative treatment involved specials from several Dutch institutions.“As far as is known, this is the first time in the world both parts of a bird’s beak have been restored in this way,” Artis said in a statement.How the injury affected the hornbill“A beak is essential to a bird,” the zoo said.Southern ground hornbills rely heavily on their beaks to search for food, probe the ground and preen their feathers.After breaking both sections of his beak, the male hornbill was left with two stumps. Although he managed reasonably well, the injury significantly restricted his everyday activities.According to an official statement Utrecht University, specials used CT scans and preserved fragments of the original beak to reconstruct its shape.How doctors created the new beakThe procedure was carried out through a collaboration involving Artis Zoo, Utrecht University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UMC Utrecht and Amnovis.Joëll Magré of UMC Utrecht developed the two 3D-printed sections, while Amnovis manufactured titanium components used to secure them.Artis veterinarian Martine van Zijll Langhout and avian special Yvonne van Zeeland helped develop the treatment plan.Veterinary surgeons Bjorn Meij and Lucinda van Stee subsequently performed the operation.Bird begins using new beak immediatelyThe biggest uncertainty was whether the hornbill would accept the prostheses.However, the bird showed encouraging signs almost immediately.“He started using the prostheses on the day of the surgery. The following morning, he independently picked up a small mouse from the ground,” the zoo said.