Detroit Zoo performs first ever hernia operation on Zane the chimp
Detroit Zoo has performed first chimp hernia operation. According to healthblog.uofmhealth.org, Detroit Zoo, with the help of several doctors, has performed a successful hernia operation on Zane the chimp. Ann Duncan, the director of animal health at the Detroit Zoo, has noticed that Zane was not being picked up by his mother.
“Although we encouraged Chiana to pick up Zane, the youngest of the 12 chimps, some female chimps have stronger maternal instincts than others,” said Duncan.
After some observation, they discovered that Zane had a inguinal hernia. The zoo promptly called University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital for assistance.
Inguinal hernias occur when tissue pushes through a weak spot in the groin muscle, causing a bulge. Duncan decided to contact a pediatric surgeon.
Marcus Jarboe, M.D. was approached to help perform the operation. Marcus, director of minimally invasive surgery at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, was excited to hear about the opportunity.
“I thought it was such a cool opportunity. However, I had never performed a hernia repair on a non-human before,” said Jarboe. “So I wanted to recruit Dr. Hirschl because of his clinical experience. I knew between the two of us, we could figure this out.”
Dr. Jarboe and his team were successful with the two hour operation and Zane made a full recovery.
Zane was then reintroduced into the chimp family. While his original mother had distanced from him, a matriarch of the chimps took him in. Trixi, one of the zoo’s oldest chimps took to Zane and has adopted him.
Go check out Zane and all the other great animals at the Detroit Zoo!
