The 3D printing prowess continue to work miracles. At Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney (Australia), surgeon Ralph Mobbs rescued a patient with Cancer cervical thanks to 3D printing. This patient in his sixties suffered from chordoma, a cancer affecting the spine and which can lead to serious neurological complications. Two cervical vertebrae from this patient were particularly affected and the risk of metastases was high. The surgeon therefore decided to replace them with titanium implants designed by the Australian 3D printing company Anatomics. The operation took place at the end of 2015. First, the surgeon and his team extracted the vertebrae damaged by the tumor via the patient’s mouth. Then, still orally, they then inserted the titanium implants. The advantage of such prostheses is that they have been made to measure thanks to a series of x-rays. They therefore perfectly replace defective bones without risking damage to the surrounding tissues.
3D printing: the medicine of the future?
“3D printing of body parts is the next step in personalized medical care. Repairing bones, joints, or organs with this type of technology is very exciting.“told the surgeon Ralph Mobbs to the Australian news site ABC. “This is an opportunity to invest ourselves and continue to push the boundaries of the field of 3D printing of human body parts.“he was also enthusiastic. Last September, a 3D printed titanium breastbone had already saved a patient with a chest tumor.
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