The neck vertebra transplant surgery with the first 3D printing technology was successful

Although we have not been able to popularize 3D printers at home yet, in medicine, this tool has become extremely useful. 3D implants are amazingly effective, just like an Australian doctor has just done.

At the end of 2015, Ralph Mobbs, a neurosurgeon at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, received a patient who was in danger. This person suffers from a deadly form of cancer called chordoma . Peripheral patients and tumors are in a very difficult position to be able to perform surgery. Mobbs said: "There are two specialized vertebrae in the neck related to the ability to rotate and bend the head. This tumor is on both vertebrae."

The dangerous position of the tumor.

If left untreated, the tumor will slowly overlap the brain stem and spine, causing paralysis. It is so awful!

In the past, there were not many options for treating this tumor because of its hard-to-reach position as well as high risk to patients. If the doctor tries to revert back to two neck vertebrae, they will have to take the bone from another part instead. However, this option is almost impossible because it is extremely difficult to find a bone that fits and fits.

That's when Mobbs decided to rely on 3D printing technology.

"I find it a great opportunity. With 3D printing technology, patients can be provided with customized body parts to achieve surgical success, better than anything we have. ever ".

To do this, Mobbs worked with an Australian medical equipment company called Anatomics. In addition to making titanium implants, the company also prints to the doctor exactly the patient's body sample so they can practice on it before embarking on a real operation.

This is the first time in history, a cervical vertebra surgery is done in this way.

Surgical use of 3D printed body parts is not new, it has been done for many years but this is the first time in history, a neck spinal surgery is done in this way. Mobbs said: "Having an implant that you know will fit well because it has been tested on a really interesting model before. It's as if someone just turned on the light and said 'hey if this is not the future, I don't know what to call it anymore "".

The surgery lasts more than 15 hours. So far, the patient has recovered very well, according to Mobbs, only has to deal with some effects due to surgery through the mouth for too long."He's a bit hard to swallow, but he's recovering gradually."