Miracles Are Possible – A 3D-Printed Skull Successfully Transplanted to a Patient

Not long ago, ordinary penicillin was discovered, without which thousands of people perished. And today, exclamations of surprise and delight are directed at scientists and doctors who create prosthetics using 3D printers.

Doctors at one of the Israeli clinics saved a young man's life – after a complex operation to remove part of his skull, it was decided to replace the fragment with a prosthetic that was printed on a 3D printer.

The Beginning of the Story

It all started about a year ago when a 21-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department of one of the Israeli clinics after experiencing a seizure. After the doctors conducted all necessary tests and examinations, he was diagnosed with meningitis, which caused brain swelling and led to a serious complication – a significant increase in intracranial pressure. All possible measures were taken, and all existing therapy options were utilized, but the patient's condition worsened. The man fell into a coma, and the doctors had to connect him to a mechanical ventilator. The only way the doctors saw to save the man's life was surgery. To normalize the level of intracranial pressure, the doctors removed part of the skull bones (about 15 cm). Fortunately, the measures taken met expectations – the patient's condition began to improve. But it was necessary to somehow restore the removed fragment of bone.

The Path to a Full Life

Several months passed during which the patient recovered from the illness, while the doctors decided which method to use for skull reconstruction. The option chosen was very modern and unpredictable for many – the implantation of a prosthetic printed on a 3D printer that completely replicates the shape of the skull.

The operation was successful. Over time, it can be said that there were no negative consequences from the installation of a product obtained in such an atypical way. The man lives a normal life and is grateful to the doctors who made incredible efforts to heal him.

Huge Prospects

Innovations in science are increasingly being integrated into the medical field. When a patient at one of the Israeli clinics needed to undergo kidney surgery with multiple tumours, the doctors first printed her kidney on a 3D printer, practiced all actions, and only then performed the surgical intervention. As a result, the specialists managed to remove all diseased tissues without traumatizing healthy areas of the kidney. This allowed for maximum preservation of the organ, and the woman soon forgot about her illness.

Israeli doctors have also begun to use 3D printers in prosthetics. This has significantly expanded the capabilities of medical professionals and improved the situation for patients. Today, it is possible not only to select the model, material, color, and size of the prosthetic but also to ensure 100% comfort in using the prosthetic, as it will be felt by the person as part of their body. And this applies not only to the production of small-sized or hidden products but also to prosthetics used in maxillofacial reconstructive surgeries.

Thanks to 3D printing, the work of dentists in prosthetics will be facilitated. The prosthetics will match the area being installed as closely as possible, and all actions (bone drilling, prosthetic placement) will be computerized.

The undeniable advantage of manufacturing prosthetics on 3D printers is that they cost significantly less than the products currently in use. Moreover, they can be created in much less time, allowing for quicker resolution of any problem.