The use of three-dimensional printing technology with hydroxyapatite (3D-HA) in bone trauma therapy offers new hope for veterinary medicine. The production of 3D-printed implants and prostheses can help veterinarians accelerate fracture healing and replace damaged bone, improving the safety and welfare of animals under treatment.
This was conveyed by Professor Dhirgo Aji during his inauguration as Professor of Veterinary Surgery at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKH UGM), on Tuesday (Jan. 27) at the UGM Senate Hall.
In his inaugural address entitled “Three-Dimensional Printing Technology (3D) Using Hydroxyapatite Material for the Management of Fracture Cases: An Industrial Perspective in Veterinary Medicine,” he expressed concern over the difficulty of finding suitable implant materials for complex bone trauma cases in animals in Indonesia.
Professor Aji noted that Indonesia’s abundant hydroxyapatite (HA) resources enable domestic HA synthesis.
Several laboratories at UGM are capable of supporting this development, positioning the university to become a pioneer in the latest applications of 3D-HA printing technology.
He added that many researchers at UGM, across various disciplines, are conducting studies on the development of biomaterials derived from natural and synthetic sources, with several innovations already patented.
“If all these researchers are brought together, Universitas Gadjah Mada could become a pioneering producer of biomaterials in Indonesia, not only for veterinary purposes but potentially also for broader public use in the future,” he explained.
Given the significant benefits of 3D printing and 3D hydroxyapatite technology in veterinary medicine for optimizing bone trauma treatment and healing in animals, Professor Aji emphasized the need to initiate and routinely implement these technologies in Indonesia.
“Animal welfare is not merely a talked slogan but must be realized through concrete actions. Indonesia is not only a large country with strategic geographic diversity, but also one with extraordinary cultural richness,” he said.
“The implementation of animal welfare across various activities is not solely about the animals themselves, but also reflects the moral integrity of the society that practices it.”
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian