In 2012, Stephen Power had a bad accident. His skull, cheek bones, nose and jaw were broken.

He required emergency surgeries (several) which left his nose pushed to one side and eyes not parallel (so he was severely vision impaired.

Last year, though, surgical specialists started working on new techniques using 3D printing at each stage. CT’s built a 3D model of his skull, and using it, the specialists produced parts (implants) to return his face to its original shape. These were made of metal grade titanium composites safe to implant. Throughout this, Mr. Powers had to wear a mask in public because of the severity of the deformities.

The 3D skull model was also used to calculate exactly where his cheek bones had to be refractured in order to place the implants. The surgery (final) lasted eight hours.

As for cost? When used in single cases, it is very high (no figures were quoted). Perhaps if used more, the cost would decrease. Also, this was a ‘first case’, so it isn’t fully clear if the most efficient process was hit on initially.

3D printing has been used to construct a ‘scaffolding’ for cultured tissue forming an ear.

3D printing may well have a place in the future of medicine for amputees, for replacing bones and other uses…the future is now possibly promising for people who really couldn’t dream of one before.

As an interesting aside, this video shows CT scanning of Richard III’s skull and recreating it in a 3D printer. I chose this so you’d get an idea of the process. The surgical complexity however is incredible. It involves living tissue: blood vessels, nerves, muscle bones and skin.

http://youtu.be/FQRI-QWVoKc

Source:

http://www.infopackets.com/news/8975/doctors-print-new-face-bike-crash-victim

http://www.3dsystems.com/learning-center/case-studies/revolutionizing-facial-reconstruction-using-3d-printing-and-3d-haptic

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2506038/3D-printing-used-reconstruct-mans-FACE.html