Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Doctors Replace Patient's Thoracic Vertebrae With 3D-Printed Replica

Posted by timothy on from the unbeatable-bragging-rights dept.

ErnieKey (3766427) writes Earlier this month, surgeons at Zhejiang University in China performed a surgery to remove two damaged vertebrae from a 21-year-old patient. In their place they inserted a 3D printed titanium implant which was shaped to the exact size needed for the patient's body. The surgery, which took doctors much less time and provided significantly less risk [than conventional surgery] was completely successful and the patient is expected to make a full recovery. This is said to be the first ever surgery involving 3D printing vertebrae in order to replace a patient's thoracic vertebrae.

55 comments

  1. Source? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Source? References? Further information?
    What caused the damage? What is the "conventional surgery"?
    When did this happen?

  2. How about replacing with an adamantium vertebrae by halfdan+the+black · · Score: 0

    Can you 3D print vertebrae out of adamantium?

    Had to ask.

  3. DMLS by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

    Direct Metal Laser Sintering. I had no idea you could do that with titanium! Pretty damn cool.

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
    1. Re:DMLS by Tatarize · · Score: 1

      Other than mercury, what metal could conceivably have any kind of thing preventing it from being melted by a laser attaching to itself when it freezes again?

      --

      It is no longer uncommon to be uncommon.
    2. Re:DMLS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well I'd expect lithium (and other alkali metals (and possibly those in group 2 also)) would ignite.

    3. Re:DMLS by Jarik+C-Bol · · Score: 1

      That'd be fun also!

      --
      I've decided to Diversify my Holdings. I've divided my cash between my left and right pockets, instead of all in one.
    4. Re:DMLS by Immerman · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You could probably avoid that by sintering in an inert atmosphere, or in vacuum. In fact I would suspect high-end metal printers would do that anyway, in order to avoid the incorporation of oxides into the final product. After all virtually all metals "burn", lithium, etc. are just more volatile than most.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    5. Re:DMLS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A lot of metals tend to be very brittle if laser sintered. Titanium has to be run at high temperature and under vacuum to avoid a lot of issues.

    6. Re:DMLS by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 1

      Bromine.

      For other reasons, none of the metals with a halflife of below a second would be advisable. Especially not for objects as large as this.

      If you want to get technical both mercury and bromine would work fine, assuming your 3d printer is in a freezer.

      Not that I would want an implant made of any of those metals.

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
    7. Re:DMLS by Tatarize · · Score: 1

      Bromine is a halogen, certainly not a metal.

      --

      It is no longer uncommon to be uncommon.
    8. Re:DMLS by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 1

      Oops.

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
  4. timothy by the_Bionic_lemming · · Score: 0

    Can you really be that stupid?

    3d printing with titanium? installing backbones? You shame all of us with this story.

    --
    _ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
    1. Re:timothy by Khyber · · Score: 5, Informative

      "3d printing with titanium?"

      NASA did it like last year, or year before that.

      Try keeping up with the pace of technology, luddite.

      ~Signed,
      Person with a 3-d printed titanium femur and 3-d printed plastic composite patella.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    2. Re:timothy by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      Signed,
      Pantsless Pedant

      In any difference of opinion, pants always beats no pants. - Jerry Seinfeld

      --
      Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
    3. Re:timothy by Immerman · · Score: 1

      Are you sure?

      My opinion is that the women's olympics should return to it's roots and be performed in the nude. Heck, the men's too, wouldn't want the female spectators to feel left out.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    4. Re:timothy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My opinion is that you should learn the difference between its and it's. What's your excuse this time?

    5. Re:timothy by Immerman · · Score: 1

      The same as every time - I rarely proofread forum posts more than a skim, and homophones slip through when I'm typing several sentences behind my thoughts.

      And yes, I can count - my thoughts are simply more voluminous than my "prose". And I suppose it means that I don't care enough about the good opinion of "grammar nazis" to waste attention on the details of a throwaway joke. Anyone who comes to an internet board looking for flawless spelling and grammar is clearly just looking to spar. Which I can respect, except that you're being unpleasantly rude.

      So, what's your excuse? If you actually want to alter people's behavior rudeness is rarely the most effective approach.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
  5. Re:How about replacing with an adamantium vertebra by CrankyFool · · Score: 2

    No. At present, our current knowledge of materials does not cover Adamantium. Basically, it's not actually a real material (to the best of our knowledge).

  6. This dude loves 3D printing news from 3dprint.com! by stastuffis · · Score: 1

    Source article Most of his submissions from there. Just sayin'.

  7. Lets wait and see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Till now the usual procedure would be to bridge the broken vertebrae with rods. That part would be immobilized, but its functional and stable.

    I have a hard time imagining the 3D printed vertebra being able to flex along normally with the remaining natural ones, and being stable in all directions. So no gain there.

    The procedure itself will cause more scar tissue, leading to Failed Back Surgery Syndrome in a lot of patients.

    so don't volunteer for one yet to get some geek points

    1. Re:Lets wait and see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I for one welcomed our former overlords, the immobilizing rods. I'd like to remind them that the future will be 3D printed, and the future is now.

  8. Re:This dude loves 3D printing news from 3dprint.c by Khyber · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yep, he barely discusses anything and submits tons of stories from there.

    50:1 this guy's shilling for ad dollars.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  9. the clickbait is missing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    3D print some links quick! I need something to click on. Clicky clicky licky mmm oh yeah.

  10. No logical benefit from this by spineboy · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm an orthopaedic surgeon, and I doubt it's anything more than just a typical spacer that is commonly used.

    OK found the article, and I'm corect.

    http://3dprint.com/30512/3d-pr...

    The title is misleading - it's just a 3D printed version of spacers that are commonly used - it really doesn't look, nor function any differently than the ones currently being used. The patient had a non-ossifying fibroma - rare in the spine, but benign, and will turn into regular bone eventually. This could have been treated with some bone graft and a plate and screws, which is basically what they did.

    Nothing really new here.

    --
    ..........FULL STOP.
    1. Re:No logical benefit from this by mlheur · · Score: 1

      Thank you very much for the reference and insight.

      I was quite curious how they could gotten the spinal cord into an artificial vertebra. I guess they could make it in two pieces and then combine the two pieces in place (screws?). I'm guessing that severing and reattaching the spinal cord itself isn't very feasible.

    2. Re:No logical benefit from this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for the info. As someone with severe scoliosis something like this (if actual titanium vertebra were being inserted) would have been pretty nifty. However having seen that it's essentially a 4-vertebra rod does make it a bit less interesting. It seems like 3D printing will become the "on a smartphone" version of patents.

    3. Re:No logical benefit from this by davester666 · · Score: 1

      IT'S TOTALLY NEW. IT USED A 3D PRINTER, FROM THE FUTURE!!

      and now we bring you the rest of the internet.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    4. Re:No logical benefit from this by AchilleTalon · · Score: 4, Funny

      It runs Linux, it is the year of Linux on the vertebrae!

      --
      Achille Talon
      Hop!
    5. Re: No logical benefit from this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually this is the original 3D printing article http://3dprint.com/12253/3d-printed-vertebra/ I believe that the novelty is the fact that it is 3D printed making it possible to for instance suit replacements in the body to an exact match based on readings from patients on the spot so to speak. So no not just an arbitrary plate and a screw

    6. Re: No logical benefit from this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And extremely logical to print in house rather than relying on some outside profiteers to earn bundles and bundles creating huge profits on prosteathics

    7. Re:No logical benefit from this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, you're a Luddite. This is 3D printed and is therefore the future. I can already picture 3D fanbois grabbing a kitchen knife to remove their own spines just so they can 3D print a new one at home!

      That is if they can get printer time away from all the people printing spare buttons and plastic clips...

    8. Re:No logical benefit from this by mi · · Score: 1

      It seems like 3D printing will become the "on a smartphone" version of patents.

      Not until the loving, caring, and omniscient folks at the FDA approve. And each would-be "app" will need a separate approval, of course.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    9. Re:No logical benefit from this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As I read the summery, I too; without any real medical knowledge thought couldn't the same peace be made using CNC machining; thought the main revolution coming in artificial bone augmentation and replacement isn't 3D printing but instead the higher resolutions available in 3D scans of the body which will allow for very accurate pieces to be made.

    10. Re:No logical benefit from this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "summery"

      Oh are you in Australia? It's quite wintery here.

    11. Re:No logical benefit from this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks. I had a T3,T4 corpectomy and T1-T6 fusion for an osteoblastoma and am patiently waiting for my doctor to one day tell me that they can grow me a new spine and be done with the fusion. Spinal cord is intact (no dura lost), so mostly I guess I need the supporting muscles and ligaments or something. I'm not even sure what. I'd just like to try indoor skydiving one day or go on a rollercoaster with my son.

  11. Howto ? by jalet · · Score: 1

    Please could someone explain to me how you put the vertebra around the spinal cord once the vertebra has been "printed" ? I think you can't cut the spinal cord, so how do you do this ?

    --
    Votez ecolo : Chiez dans l'urne !
    1. Re:Howto ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nanobots. 3dprinted. Nanobots.

    2. Re:Howto ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Have a look at the photos at http://3dprint.com/30512/3d-printed-thoracic-vertebrae/ and see what their 3d printed vertebra actually is.

    3. Re:Howto ? by wierd_w · · Score: 1

      And here I was thinking it was like something out of aeon flux...

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  12. Re:How about replacing with an adamantium vertebra by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Pfft.
    Everyone knows you get adamantium by processing unobtainium.

  13. Trust me I know. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    These types of surgeries usually end with more pain than you had going in. I was on 5 10/650 Lorcets "discontinued" per day going in for surgery #1 and 6 for #2 now I'm on a 100 mcg Fentanyl patch every 48 hours and 8 10/325 Percocet for breakthrough pain. Then when shit gets really bad, you know, the point of hurting so bad that eating a bullet sounds like relief I substitute with lots of heroin. I hate that I need so many drugs I'd rather just feel normal instead of clouded beyond reason all the time.

    I know we've came a long way, but there is no way in hell they'll ever be cutting me open again. The funny part is my doctor forced this on me, he said he did not want me having to take pain killers for the rest of my life. It was surgery or be cut off. In the end they've turned me into a shadow of my former self.

    1. Re: Trust me I know. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      God damn, you have my sympathy. I hope you found a good pain management doc rather than the cruel one who forced your surgery.

      Also, your case is a perfect example of why our "war on drugs" is immoral. You shouldn't be forced to resort to the black market to treat your medical condition.

      Again, best wishes from a med student who hopes to never fail a patient the way you experienced.

    2. Re:Trust me I know. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Idle speculation here, but in cases of severe intractable pain is it possible to ablate the spinothalamic tract? This is the pathway in the spinal cord that carries pain signals.
      http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki...

      It seems conceptually feasible and would theoretically result in permanent loss of pain and temperature sensation in the affected regions, while leaving discriminatory touch sensation intact.

      Looks like someone else already had this idea...
      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/...

      It seems like focal destruction of the anterior white commissure would be fairly specific in terms of eliminating pain and temperature sensation without loss of other function.

    3. Re:Trust me I know. by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      These types of surgeries usually end with more pain than you had going in.

      Ouch!

      Anyhow, if you look at what they made, it is a lot less nasty than some of the older methods. Essentially they put a stabilizing "wrap" around the vertabrae. The headlines are misleading. It looks like a good solution to her particular problem, as it sounded like she was ready to hang it up.

      All that being said, surgery has come a long way, and I can see some of the 3-d work being of great use. As a for instance, my Wife had "mommy thumb" which is where the cartilage wears away at the base of the thumb. Pretty common in women. She would be doing whatever she was doing, and some random movement would scrape the bone against the nerve, and it was like a very painful shock.

      Anyhow, the traditional treatment is fusing the joint, which eliminates the pain, and the movement. Now there is an operation where they remove the affected bone, take half of one of the tendons above the wrist (split lengthwise, and somehow wrap that around the nerve, making a new joint. It's like magic, she went from excruciating pain to just about nothing, and she has full use of the thumb. The tradeoff was that the immobilized thumb was instantaneous relief, and she had a a couple months of PT after allowing the new joint to heal. But the immobilized thumb was not of a lot of use. 3-D printing might make this procedure even better

      I know you said you'll not allow them to touch you again, but some medical advances recently, plus some research on your part (as opposed to doctors, who are going to bring their own suppositions and often "this is the way I've always done it") might be able to get you some relief for your problem.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  14. Doctors Replace Patient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wondered about "mix ups" after TBIs...

  15. DMLS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Direct Metal Laser Sintering (it is really melting not sintering) also known as Selective Laser Melting has been able to process titanium and its alloys for almost a decade. It is one of the easiest materials to process, unlike aluminium which is very difficult.

  16. Re:How about replacing with an adamantium vertebra by peragrin · · Score: 1

    True but you wouldn't want to either. You need your bones the way they are, it is tough to get ligaments to grow and attach to metal. Without ligaments your muscles don't have anything to anchor too.

    --
    i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
  17. bad summary, no links? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

    Citations needed, as they say.

    Also, 3-D printed titanium? Have we skipped ahead a century or so?

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    1. Re:bad summary, no links? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      Also, 3-D printed titanium? Have we skipped ahead a century or so?

      No. If you have a cool million or so to drop on a 3 printer, you can print with a variety of metals in very high precision, including titanium and hardened steel.

      For example, here is a 3D printed gun:

      https://www.solidconcepts.com/...

      You can print all sorts of stuff.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    2. Re:bad summary, no links? by Immerman · · Score: 1

      Titanium printing has been around for years (someone above even claims a couple of decades) - we're talking the high-end laser sintering machines and related technology, not the johnny-come-lately cheap plastic extrusion crap. Those are essentially just toy versions of a concept pioneered much earlier.

      Among the things that can now be 3D printed:
      Various resins - I think these were actually the first to the party, and they've gotten rather advanced in a variety of different configurations.
      Titanium
      High temperature ceramics
      Living cells (and assorted artificial intercellular matrices) - various medical researchers are working on being able to print viable replacement organs and body parts, as I recall they've already had fairly decent success with relatively simple things like bladders and ears

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
  18. Re:How about replacing with an adamantium vertebra by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > Basically, it's not actually a real material (to the best of our knowledge).

    I thought it was discovered by Adam Ant?

  19. Re:How about replacing with an adamantium vertebra by PRMan · · Score: 1

    No, you have to pour it in as it's molten hot because once it cools, you're not doing anything to it. That's why you need a mutant with healing powers...

    Wait! What were we talking about?

    --
    Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
  20. Printing Bone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Think it will ever be possible to 3D print bone that has a genetic match for the person it was printed for? Kinda like in 5th Element, where the fluorescent green ooze made the bones of the supreme being.

    1. Re:Printing Bone by craighansen · · Score: 1

      Think it will ever be possible to 3D print bone that has a genetic match for the person it was printed for? Kinda like in 5th Element, where the fluorescent green ooze made the bones of the supreme being.

      It might be feasible to use bone granules as already used in bone grafts, along with some kind of glue matrix to hold it in place. What's not obvious is the choice of material for the glue matrix that is biocompatible with bone healing and providing sufficient material strength until replaced wih new bone growth. My understanding of the current state of the art involves splinting until the bone granules heal together, or, for example, using these bone granules in jawbone to build up bone prior to installing dental implants after the bone graft heals - in these cases, the bone isn't structurally sound until it heals. I personally had a surgeon graft bone material from my hip into my knee to repair a tibia plateau fracture, but that also included two three-inch screws to hold everything in place - and it took quite some time before the bone was full strength.

      It'll be a long time before 3D printers place individual atoms/molecules in place to build material that's a genetic match while printing bone structure.