Oncologists in Malaysia have performed their first heel bone replacement surgery with the help of 3D Printing. This successful milestone was achieved by making a 3D Printed mold and
The patient’s recovery, devoid of complications, highlights the efficacy of this method. With its cost-effectiveness, the 3D printing approach emerges as a promising solution for bone reconstruction amidst financial constraints in government healthcare facilities. The medical team underscores the method’s versatility, highlighting its potential to benefit numerous patients requiring bone reconstruction.
Spearheaded by doctors from the Orthopaedic Oncology Department, the surgery, led by Dr. Aaron Gerarde Paul, Dr. Eyrique Goh Boay Heong, and Dr. Tee Kok Keat, marked a significant leap in medical innovation. Preparation involved meticulous planning, leveraging advanced technology to convert CT images into precise 3D models.
DICOM files were effectively transformed into a printable stl file and leadership was from the Orthopaedic Oncology Department, by Dr. Eyrique Goh Boay Heong, Dr. Tee Kok Keat & Dr. Aaron Gerarde Paul.
PLA material was used to manufacture the mold on which the actual part was fabricated. As we know PLA has good benefits for food grade and even biocompatible. They have planned well to use bone cement, that is also known as Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This material has excellent weight bearing capabilities.
This economically effective and innovative approach has given a boost to the 3D Printing applications in medical field to plan and efficiently adapt reverse engineering process to reduce manufacturing cost by traditional manufacturing. Malaysian healthcare has proven once again with this new technique that they are adapting 3d printing techniques to overcome challenges in the financial aspect of a surgery. This offers a breakthrough solutions in terms of cost-effective surgical planning worldwide.