WildLife Group of the SAVA
To ensure the best decision for Claude was made , Doctors Steenkamp and Koeppel consulted with a Pretoria-based maxillofacial surgeon , Dr Frits Hoogendijk and the options for Claude was discussed .
With his age in mind and the type of malalignment present , the team decided that Claude ’ s lower jaw had to be lengthened . This had to be done to precision , as the teeth still needed to interlock with each other in a manner that will provide Claude with a comfortable but functional bite .
Since no orthodontics would be possible before and after the surgery , the goal was to create a comfortable but functional bite for Claude in a single procedure . This type of surgery ( a Bilateral Saggital Split Operation ) is commonly performed on humans , however no record of such surgery could be found on a chimpanzee or any other Great Ape .
Multiple organizations collaborated to make the surgery possible . Apart from all the veterinarians and Dr Hoogendijk working pro bono , donations were also received from VinDMED Medical Suppliers ( who donated several plates , screws , and other surgical equipment ) and VetdentSA ( who purchased the drill unit as well as specific instruments needed for the surgery ).
The JGI covered all travel and accommodation expenses . West Acres veterinary hospital in Mbombela availed their theatre and staff for the procedure . All travel arrangements for the chimpanzee to and from the hospital was made by Hi-Tech Medical Services .
On Monday , 18 September 2017 , after weeks of preparation , the team assembled in Mbombela for the surgery on Claude the next day . Early on Tuesday morning , Claude was darted with an anaesthetic drug . Upon his arrival at the hospital , he was placed on his back and connected to a ventilator and the gas anaesthetic machine .
In two and a half hours the team managed to split Claude ’ s jaw on the left and right side , as well as position it in a comfortable , functional occlusion for him . This entailed moving the left jaw approximately 12mm and the right jaw approximately 5mm . Both sides were stabilized with miniplates .
His recovery after the surgery was rapid and rather uneventful . Dr Reynier Oelofsen from Chimp Eden reported that Claude started eating the day after the surgery . He was , however , reluctant to take his medication in the meals provided . Because Claude prefers bananas , the fruit was used to medicate him . In just a few days Claude was eating the recommended soft diet and two weeks later , he is healthy and cannot wait to be reunited with his fellow chimps .
The surgical team believes the procedure , a worldfirst on a chimpanzee , has changed Claude ’ s life . He will be able to carry on playing and eating without discomfort .
Future Health Problems
During his examination in 2016 , Claude ’ s broken jaw was not the only medical problem the ape was diagnosed with . Claude underwent routine echocardiography , performed by Dr . Anthony Zambelli ( specialist physician – Inanda Veterinary Hospital ) and was found to have a novel form of heart muscle disease , only recently described in humans and never before in Chimps . Isolated left ventricular noncompaction ( ILVNC ) is a cardiomyopathy caused by a failure of the left heart muscle to develop properly in the uterus . It can lead to clinical complications like heart failure , arrhythmias , and cardioembolism , and Claude was put onto medication and dietary supplements for the management of the condition . He is currently doing well on the medication and will be monitored at least twice a year for this .
For more information , requests for interviews or photographs , please contact :
Dr Katja Koeppel Senior Lecturer University of Pretoria Cell 072 173 2282 E-mail katja . koeppel @ up . ac . za
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