A team of doctors from the Limoges University Hospital has, for the first time, implanted a ceramic sternum in a patient suffering from bone metastases.
We knew the city of Limoges for its famous porcelain, one of the most famous in France and in the world. But it is also in the capital of Haute-Vienne that, for the first time in the history of medicine, a sternum made of alumina ceramic called CERAMIL was implanted on a patient victim of bone metastases. Dr François Bertin from the CHU de Limoges, in collaboration with the company I.CERAM, is the basis of this surgical feat carried out in March 2015.
Until now, the breastbones affected by a tumor have been replaced by orthopedic cement, a material much more restrictive and less secure than this prosthesis. According to Dr Bertin, ceramic is “a material that has never become infected. As this material is porous, the bone will be able to enter it ”.
Today, after three months of clinical experience, the operation seems to be bearing fruit. The patient benefits from a new healthy sternum and gradually regains her breathing capacities. Within three months, the implant should be an integral part of the bone and will even promote cell circulation.
An implant that prevents infections
It is the Limousin company I.CERAM which is at the origin of the creation of this prosthesis. Previously, this French start-up only produced small prostheses. But, after several months of studies, the researchers were able to develop this piece of a new kind. The alumina used in the production of the implant eliminates any risk of infections (which concern 2 to 4% of prosthesis installations). In addition, its inertia and biocompatibility ensure the flexibility of the thorax once the operation is completed.
On the other hand, the medical team admits that it does not yet have enough clinical experience to definitively declare this operation a success. We will have to wait at least until the end of the year for other patients to be implanted. Doctors will be able to analyze the reaction of the human body and how the implant “lives” in its new environment.
Thanks to the creation of CERAMIL, the company I.CERAM hopes to conquer the global high-tech prosthesis market.
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