In a groundbreaking medical achievement, a cancer patient has received a new chest cavity, including a breastbone, created through a special 3D printing process. The Salamanca University Hospital in Spain used a high-tech 3D printer to produce a chest cavity and breastbone for a patient who had undergone surgery to remove cancerous ribs and breastbone. The doctors reported that the removal of the ribs and the titanium replacement from the 3D printer was the best way to help the patient. While this is the first time a chest cavity has been created using 3D printing, the medical field is increasingly using 3D printing to create implants. For example, doctors have previously implanted a complete spinal column for a 12-year-old boy and created growing tracheas that have saved children’s lives.
The medical 3D printing technology is still in its infancy, with high costs and a lack of trained personnel hindering widespread use. However, the technology has already shown great promise in creating custom implants that fit perfectly with a patient’s body. In this case, the doctors used a high-resolution CT scan to create a precise model of the patient’s chest cavity, which was then used to create the implant using an electron beam melting process. The operation was successful, and the patient was able to leave the hospital after just twelve days.
While it may be decades before 3D printing becomes a routine part of medical treatment, the potential benefits are enormous. Custom implants can be created quickly and precisely, reducing the risk of complications and improving patient outcomes. As the technology continues to advance and become more affordable, it is likely that 3D printing will become an increasingly important tool in the medical field.
