Oct. 20, 2014 | By Alec

We've said it before, and we'll say it again. While 3D printing technology is set to make our lives far more convenient and practical, no industry is poised to benefit from it as much as the medical sector is about to. And obviously, everyone is set to profit from improved medical services.

Sadly, large-scale applications of 3D printed technology in hospitals is still a few years away, but it already being used to treat various difficult cases that would otherwise leave people completely incapacitated or even dead. Just in recent weeks we've seen a reconstructed orbital bone, a mock-up of a child's brain and a 3D printed skull implant among others, but a new success story has already surfaced in India.

There, a 41-year-old man from Bangalore, known only by the initials G.A., has undergone successful surgery where part of his upper jaw was replaced with the help of 3D printing technology.

Before needing the help of 3D printed medical care, G.A. was diagnosed with cancer of the palate (or upper jaw) a few months ago. He underwent surgery for infra-structure maxillectomy, or removal of the upper jaw palate and underwent radiotherapy for six weeks. All of this is obviously quite traumatic already, and while successful, it left his nose and maxillary sinus exposed to the mouth.

In the weeks that followed, however, complications arose. He developed radiation induced trismus, or the inability to completely open your mouth. This was getting progressively worse, and when G.A. finally searched for medical help his mouth opening was reduced to just two centimetres. Both eating and talking had become especially difficult, affecting just about any aspect of daily life.

Now surgery on trismus is difficult in any situation. Normally, doctors would surgically insert a prosthetic or palatal obturator to replace the removed section of the man's upper jaw. This would simulate all the movements of a jaw and return most of his jaw functions over time. However, as G.A.'s lockjaw was so severe, many dentists tried and subsequently refused to treat him. They felt unable to make a mould or cast of the area in question because the opening was reduced to such a small gap.

Fortunately, maxillofacial surgeon dr. Satyajit Dandagi refused to give up. Looking for innovative methods to solve this difficult case, he got in touch with df3d, an Indian/German 3D printing and design company.

The team

They, in turn, connected him to Osteo3D, one of their subsidiary businesses who focus on the medical applications of 3D printing technology. While specializing in a number of activities, they're very proficient at producing 3D printed prosthetics and medical models to aid surgeons. As they explained, these 3D printed medical models 'can be used by healthcare professionals for surgical planning and re-construction. Using the model surgical procedures can be conducted offline to validate the implants and procedures. This will help in reduction of the duration of the actual surgical procedure and result in better efficiency and accuracy.'

And this is exactly what they made. Using a CT scan of the patient's face, they were capable of creating a 3D printed reconstruction of the patient's skull. Complete with lower and upper jaw, his teeth and the specific defect the Indian man was suffering from, the model was able to simulate all the movements of the patients joints and open properly. This allowed surgeons to design a obturator that fit exactly in the 3D printed replica.

This particular obturator was made out of hardened wax and fitted with teeth. Inserting it into the patient's mouth, this prosthesis has greatly improved the patient's jaw functions. His chewing, swallowing, speaking and smiling have all reportedly improved greatly, allowing the anonymous man to get his life back again.


The patient after the procedure.

 

Posted in 3D Printing Applications

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DR. RAVI GUPTA wrote at 12/1/2015 4:44:45 AM:

I AM A CANCER SURGEON. DOING GOOD NO. OF HEAD AND CANCER SURGERIES. I WISH TO INCORPORATE 3D PRINTED SILICON PROSTHESIS FOR MY PTS. AESTHETIC AND FUNCTIONAL PROBLEMS. I WANT TO SET UP A 3D PRINTING LAB AT MY CENCTER IN BHOPAL, M.P. INDIA. PL. SUGGEST THE POSSIBILITIES .



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