Dr. George Bagby, MD, an orthopedic surgeon from Spokane, Wash., and inventor of the “Bagby Bone Basket” or “Seattle Slew Basket” – made famous when it was implanted into the neck of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew to prolong his life – died on Dec. 12 at the age of 93.
Bagby and equine surgeons Dr. Pamela (Wagner) vonMatthiessen and Dr. Barrie Grant pioneered the surgery in the late 1970s along with other members of the Washington State University veterinary staff. Bagby would soon collaborate with spine surgeon Dr. Stephen Kuslich of the Mayo Clinic and convert the technique for human use in lower back surgery. Today the BAK implant is commonly used in surgery on people with degenerative discs and spines.
Bagby and Grant performed the life-saving surgery on Seattle Slew after the champion racehorse-turned champion stallion was diagnosed in 2000 with wobbler syndrome, a degenerative disease that causes compression of the spinal cord through stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal.
The surgery involves screwing a threaded titanium implant that has many small holes in the walls into a horse's spine. Contained within the basket is bone graft that is harvested from the patient during the drilling and tapping process. When surgically implanted between two vertebrae, the bone begins to grow through the walls of the basket to eventually form dense bone, healthy bone that prevents excessive movement of the cervical vertebra that puts pressure on the spinal cord.
The surgery relieved Seattle Slew's discomfort and allowed him to breed to a book of 60 mares the following year.
“George Bagby's innovative approach to treating Seattle Slew's condition certainly extended his life, and as importantly, his comfort,” said Dan Rosenberg, who was general manager of Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky., during Seattle Slew's stallion career. “George's quiet confidence, surgical skills and great communication skills helped us get through a very difficult time.”
Bagby always had an affinity for horses. He was born in Waco, Texas, but soon moved to Minnesota. He accompanied his stepfather – a veterinarian – on calls to area farms. While he loved working with animals, he felt the call of duty when Germany invaded Poland.
“Although I was interested in the veterinary field, thoughts of World War II changed me into thinking that caring for humans would be of greater use to the world,” he once told a writer for Orthopedics This Week.
Bagby and equine surgeons Dr. Pamela (Wagner) vonMatthiessen and Dr. Barrie Grant pioneered the surgery in the late 1970s along with other members of the Washington State University veterinary staff. Bagby would soon collaborate with spine surgeon Dr. Stephen Kuslich of the Mayo Clinic and convert the technique for human use in lower back surgery. Today the BAK implant is commonly used in surgery on people with degenerative discs and spines.
Bagby and Grant performed the life-saving surgery on Seattle Slew after the champion racehorse-turned champion stallion was diagnosed in 2000 with wobbler syndrome, a degenerative disease that causes compression of the spinal cord through stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal.
The surgery involves screwing a threaded titanium implant that has many small holes in the walls into a horse's spine. Contained within the basket is bone graft that is harvested from the patient during the drilling and tapping process. When surgically implanted between two vertebrae, the bone begins to grow through the walls of the basket to eventually form dense bone, healthy bone that prevents excessive movement of the cervical vertebra that puts pressure on the spinal cord.
The surgery relieved Seattle Slew's discomfort and allowed him to breed to a book of 60 mares the following year.
“George Bagby's innovative approach to treating Seattle Slew's condition certainly extended his life, and as importantly, his comfort,” said Dan Rosenberg, who was general manager of Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky., during Seattle Slew's stallion career. “George's quiet confidence, surgical skills and great communication skills helped us get through a very difficult time.”
Bagby always had an affinity for horses. He was born in Waco, Texas, but soon moved to Minnesota. He accompanied his stepfather – a veterinarian – on calls to area farms. While he loved working with animals, he felt the call of duty when Germany invaded Poland.
“Although I was interested in the veterinary field, thoughts of World War II changed me into thinking that caring for humans would be of greater use to the world,” he once told a writer for Orthopedics This Week.
