A hospital in China has finish an modern performance to remove six vertebrae from a patient ’s spine and replace them with 3D - printed titanium prosthetics .
Taiwanese newspaper groupPeople ’s Daily Onlinereports that the 28 - class - honest-to-god char , do it only under the assumed name Xiao Wen , was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma in May 2017 . This is a rare physical body of a cancerous tumor that assail gristle , the tough “ rubbery ” connective tissue find oneself between many of the human body ’s bone .
Typically , these tumor are observe in the pelvis or thigh . However , this char ’s tumor impress six of her seven cervical vertebrae , the disc - comparable bones that make up the neck opening . Gradually her conditioned exacerbate and she was ineffective to make introductory movement with her arms .
A famed spinal surgeonXiao Jianruat Shanghai Changzheng Hospital make up one’s mind to take activity and made the terra firma - break away decision to remove her affected vertebrae and exchange them with stilted ones . The Dr. said that treating her cancer with conventional method , such as chemotherapy or actinotherapy , would test ineffective with this type of cancer and will the young woman at risk of a relapse . Given the enfeeble nature of her malady , they settle to act heavily and tight .
Jianru and his confrere at the Second Military Medical University of Changzheng Hospital spent three hebdomad building the artificial pearl using Ti metal and customise 3D - print technology . To avail forge the new prosthetic parts , they construct a life - size theoretical account of the woman ’s upper prickle using a three-D - printer .
The 13 - hour operation at long last went ahead in July this yr . " Xiao Wen is slowly retrieve , " according to a recent report by the People ’s Daily Online . Thanks to the surgery , she is now able to tolerate and take the air , although she is still unable to turn her head commonly .
This is not the first time the squad has used 3D - printing engineering for operative procedures . In 2016 , they used 3-D - print parts to replace a affected role ’s cervical vertebra and thoracic vertebra . Just this month , a squad of surgeons inIndia also used a 3D - print vertebra . Nevertheless , this recent operation is opine to be the most expansive use of the technology necessitate the spine yet .
