In a transplant that was the first of its kind, an orthopedic surgeon in the U.K effectively 3D-printed a pelvis and inserted the tech-created bone into a male patient. Surgeon Craig Gerrand from the Newcastle Hospital NHS Foundation Trust felt that using this technology for medical reasons would work well, allowing the patient to regain mobility.
The recipient of the 3D-printed pelvis suffered from chondrosarcoma, a form of bone and joint cancer. Half of his pelvis was removed in an attempt to stop the spread of cancer. Since chondrosarcoma does not respond to treatment methods like radiotherapy or drugs, the pelvis needed to be removed in order for the patient to start recovering.
To create an accurate template for the pelvis, researchers scanned the data of a man’s pelvis in his 60s to get the proper measurements. This information was processed by the 3D printer and helped produce the pelvic dimensions needed to make the bone proportionate to the man’s hip. This process used a laser to bind the titanium powder together. The implant was customized and printed, using a material consisting of a scaffold polylactic acid and gelatinous alginate coated in cells. When the scaffold thaws, bone growth is promoted over the course of several months.
Story via Business Insider
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