At the Department of Cranio- and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland, there is a new 3D printing lab which is transforming surgical planning.
Not only is the 3D printer saving the hospital 2,000 Swiss Francs per surgery (approx. $2,052), it’s also reducing operating times. For example, the surgical time for complex orbital floor reconstruction has been reduced by 33%.
On top of all of these benefits, the hospital reports that patient outcomes are improved and the risk of complications is reduced. Dr. Florian Thieringer explains:
“Many of our trauma patients arrive with complex, life-threatening injuries that necessitate the creation of quick and efficient treatment plans. Having access to in-house 3D printing on-demand has simply revolutionized the way we work, most notably for cranio-maxillofacial injuries.”
Using Stratasys PolyJet 3D Printing for Patient-Specific Anatomical Models
The hospital uses Stratasys technology to produce a patient-specific model from a CT scan. This 3D printed model is used for both planning interventions and implants. The process from receiving the scan to holding a finished 3D printed model is just two hours.
The hospital explains that with orbital floor and serious zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures, visibility is restricted and access is limited. Therefore, there is a high margin for error. 3D printed models drastically helps with this issue.
The team would previously use standard titanium meshes to plan reconstructions. These meshes needed to be cut and formed by hand in the operating theatre to ensure an exact fit.
Dr. Thieringer explains: “With the highly-accurate 3D printed models, standard titanium implants can be shaped individually to create a hybrid patient-specific implant… This reduces any cutting and suture time needed during the operation and also reduces the need to source patient-specific titanium implants from external suppliers. Also, thanks to the transparency of MED610 modelling material, we can create highly precise, anatomically correct models. This not only allows us to visualize parts of the anatomy otherwise obscured or limited during surgery, but it also reduces the need for patients to return for revision operations.”
Find out more about Stratasys 3D printing technology by visiting the website.
Source: Press Release
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