AUSSIE DOCTORS IMPLANT CALCANEOUS MADE BY 3-D PRINTERS
posted: Nov. 01, 2014.
IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA DOCTORS USED A 3-D PRINTER TO BUILD A MAN A NEW CALCANEOUS TO SAVE HIM FROM LOSING HIS LEG TO CANCER. THEY USED SCANS OF HIS RIGHT HEEL TO MAKE A NEW LEFT HEEL AS AN EXACT REPLICA. MOST PATIENTS WITH CANCER IN THE CALCANEOUS LOSE THE LEG BELOW THE ANKLE AS IT TOO DIFICULT TO REPLACE THIS COMPLEX BONE, WHICH MUST MOVE WITH THE SHIN AND FOOT BONES. SO FAR THIS SURGERY SEEMS A SUCCESS. THIS WILL OPEN UP MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES FOR FUTURE BONE SURGERIES.