Doctors from Peking University for the first time implanted a vertebra printed on a 3D printer to a man

A team of doctors from Peking University recently announced the successful use of a vertebral implant, a part of a human spine printed on a 3D printer.

Such an operation was performed for a 12-year-old patient with a malignant tumor of the spinal cord. The doctors had to perform many hours of surgery, with the replacement of the spinal section with an artificial implant. At the same time, the implant itself is very different from the prostheses that have been created until now.
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First, the vertebra was created by sintering titanium powder. Secondly, the shape of the artificial vertebra completely repeats the shape of the natural vertebra. You do not need to use orthopedic cement or screws, as happens in the case of using traditional implants.

That's because the implant is not monolithic, but porous. According to the calculations of scientists, bone tissue will grow through these pores, and no replacement of the prosthesis with age is required, as far as can be understood - the bone tissue will cover the vertebra, which will become a natural part of the boy's spine.

In addition, conventional prostheses can be damaged as a result of external influences (although the likelihood of this is small). And with a 3D-implant this can not happen, because it becomes a natural extension of the spine.



However, the rehabilitation of a patient with this type of implant takes longer than in the case of traditional prosthetics. Now the boy’s head and neck were fixed to prevent movement of the spine. And in this state, the boy will have to spend 3 months, after which there will come a period of active rehabilitation. In any case, this is better than being disabled for the rest of your life, agree.

Via forbes