Formnext Germany

Doctors use 3D Printing to Straighten Severely Bent Legs & Perform Double Knee Replacement Surgery

Share this Article

knee1Whether it is through the use of 3D printed medical models, 3D printed titanium implants, or other cutting edge technology, doctors and surgeons in China certainly are no slouches when it comes to finding solutions for their patients. This is seen yet again at the Handan General Orthopaedic Hospital in China, as surgeons have used 3D printing to repair a young male patient’s severely deformed legs.

The patient was admitted into the hospital with a condition known as genu varum deformity. This is a condition defined by the inward angulation of the distal segment of the knees, and is more frequently termed “bow legs”. The patient’s right leg had a varus deformity of 43 degrees, while the left was less severe with a 20 degree deformity. Not only were the deformities causing the young man issues with walking, but they were also causing a lot of pain and discomfort; pain that had been an issue for over 10 years.

This case was deemed extremely rare and very severe, leaving surgeons contemplating a logical solution. In the end, they ended up opting for double knee replacement surgery, but needed to find a way to ensure the complicated surgery would be a success. In doing so, they decided to 3D print replicas of the patient’s knees and legs in order to better aid in both planning for the surgery and explaining the procedure to the patient. At the same time, it allowed them to practice the surgery on the 3D printed version prior to undertaking the actual operation.

knee2

Director of Physicians at the hospital, Han Shoujiang, who has performed over 2000 surgeries over the past 20 years, said that the 3D printed model was able to greatly improve surgical accuracy and ultimately the chances of success. It allowed them to ensure that they had lined the leg bones and knee replacements up precisely, providing the patient with an entirely straight new posture.

“High-tech 3D printing joint technology can advance surgery through mock procedures,” explained Shoujiang. “On the one hand it allows the surgeon to perform a simulated surgical procedure, repeatedly. On the other hand, it allows for customized patient-specific surgical instruments to be created via 3D models.”

knee3

The surgery, which took place earlier this month, was deemed a complete success, with the young man able to walk pain free for the first time in 10 years. This is just one more shining example of how 3D printing is changing the landscape of the operating room. By allowing surgeons and doctors to perform mock procedures prior to the actual surgery, 3D printing will continue to be a life saving technology as we move forward.

What do you think about this latest case of 3D printing medical models for surgery? Discuss in the double knee replacement forum thread on 3DPB.com.

knee4



Share this Article


Recent News

Firing on All Cylinders: Ursa Major Discusses One of the Most Pivotal Quarters in Company History

Nike’s 3D Printed Air Max 1000 Drops Summer 2025—and Influencers Already Have It



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

From Saddles to Sculptures: Hermès’ Equestrian Legacy Meets 3D Printing

A horse in the park, birds in flight, and a window that tells a story with curves and colors. This is the latest visual tale from Hermès, unveiled at Amsterdam’s...

Adidas Launches 3D Printed Climacool Slip-On Globally Today

Today, May 2, 2025, marks the official global release of the Adidas Climacool, a fully 3D printed sneaker designed for breathability, comfort, and performance. After a limited early drop on...

3DPOD 246: 3D Printing at Oechsler, with Andreas Knoechel

Andreas Knoechel, Head of Program Management for Additive Manufacturing at Oechsler, is doing some real heavy lifting in production. German plastics manufacturer Oechsler was the pioneer behind 3D-printed shoes at...

Communicating Vessels: Four 3D Printing Markets

Of late, I’ve been considering the 3D printing market not as a single, unified industry but as four distinct markets, each with its own needs. Rather than segmenting the market...