- Hip replacements are becoming increasingly common, but there are still many limitations to the current approaches
- 3D printing offers a potential solution to some of these limitations, including the ability to fabricate personalized implants
- There are several different 3D printing techniques, each with their own advantages and disadvantages
- Surface modifications can be used to improve the biocompatibility of 3D printed implants
- 3D printing has the potential to revolutionize hip replacement surgeries (Source)
My friend Alice had a hip replacement a few months ago. The surgery went smoothly, but Alice was worried about the implant. She had heard that some people had problems with implants, and she was concerned that hers might not be perfect.
Luckily, Alice’s doctor told her about 3D printing. He explained that 3D printing is a new technology that can be used to create personalized implants. This means that the implant can be designed specifically for her individual needs, which could help to avoid any problems.
The doctor recommended that Alice get her implant 3D printed at a clinic that specializes in this technology. So she made an appointment and headed over there.
When she arrived, Alice was greeted by a team of experts who explained everything to her in detail. They showed her how the implant is designed on a computer, and how it is then printed using a special printer. They also explained the advantages of using a 3D printed implant.
For example, they said that 3D printing makes it possible to include intricate details that are not possible with traditional manufacturing techniques. This can help to ensure a perfect fit and reduce the risk of problems later on.
Alice was impressed by what she heard and decided to go ahead and get her implant 3D printed. The process took a few days, but when she picked it up she was amazed by the results. The implant looked exactly like it had been designed on the computer, and it fit perfectly into her hip socket.
Alice is now recovering well and is confident that her new implant will last for many years to come. She is grateful to her doctor for recommending 3D printing, and she knows that more and more people will be choosing this technology in the future.
The backstory
The 1980s saw the introduction of the very first consumer-level 3D printers. In 1986, Charles Hull developed the very first 3D printer that was available for purchase on the market.
In 2012, researchers used 3D printing to manufacture an artificial liver consisting of cells taken from a human liver. In order to build digital prototypes of objects in a short amount of time, the technology for three-dimensional printing employs a procedure known as discrete and heap formation.
It utilizes cutting-edge materials in conjunction with cutting-edge technologies like as computer-aided design (CAD) and numerical control (NC), among others. As opposed to the more traditional process of “cutting off,” which involves “layer by layer” construction of a three-dimensional structure, the 3D printing technology has numerous benefits.
As a result of the development of 3D printing technology and the availability of extremely accurate medical digital images that can be used to create “custom” high precision implants for surgical solutions, the success rate of complicated and difficult procedures has increased.
This has been made possible by the availability of medical digital images. Surgeons who are faced with severe hip abnormalities face a number of challenges, the most significant of which is the challenge of selecting the optimal prosthesis for a successful replacement that also gives a high level of deformity repair.
Advantages and Disadvantages
New ideas in preoperative planning can be explored with 3D printed models by doing full-scale probing testing of a candidate implant before surgery. This can be done to save time.
Because of the high degree of precision with which a 3D-printed prosthesis may be sculpted to match a patient’s knee or hip, less bone needs to be removed during the surgical procedure.
Because a younger patient is more likely to require revision surgery at some point in the future, it is imperative that as much of the patient’s bone as possible be preserved.
This precise method of joint replacement surgery has the additional advantage of keeping more of the bone surface accessible for securing the new prosthesis, which typically results in a stronger and better fusing of bone to the implant.
In addition, the amount of time needed to complete the operation can be cut down, and the amount of blood loss will be decreased.
Patients under the age of 50 who are interested in leading an active lifestyle have higher expectations for how their replacement knee or hip will feel and perform than those patients over the age of 50.
The total hip and knee replacement prostheses available today vary in a variety of sizes; nonetheless, their designs are virtually identical in every other respect.
The process of 3D printing has a few downsides, such as the fact that it is difficult, time-consuming, and requires specialist computer expertise as well as training.
The completion of each model takes around twelve hours, making the process not only labor-intensive but also time-consuming. In one particular instance, we were obliged to add even more time to our estimate because of a technical issue that occurred with the model while it was being printed.
CT scans are taken on each patient so that the 3D template may be created; this results in an increase in both expenditures and the amount of radiation that patients are exposed to beyond what is required for regular procedures.
In addition, the approach’s cost is a critical limitation emphasized in the included research; this is not specific to 3D printing processes, but rather an issue that often occurs when fresh and expensive technology are introduced into clinical practice.
The method’s expensive cost isn’t the only factor preventing wider use. Several surgical teams worried about the technique’s organizational impact, noting that coordinating so many parties was difficult. Most surgeons lack 3D software expertise. Surgeons typically feel nervous about making patient-affecting decisions during preoperative planning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 3D printed medical items were only produced in ideal conditions and at affordable prices by specialized and private producers until recently.
This is beginning to change, however, as cheaper 3D printers and more accessible 3D software are allowing more and more hospitals to make 3D things in-house.
We believe that the ideal way to encourage the spread of this technology within hospitals is for surgical teams to share the cost of hardware, software, and material.
Hello, my name’s Rush Chapman. I’m a 3D printing enthusiast. I started this site to help people choose 3D printing projects and select the best 3D printer for your needs, whether you’re a hobbyist or a pro!
