Custom surgical implants using additive manufacturing

Abstract

CAD/CAM and Additive Manufacturing (AM) are getting more attention in the medical sector, especially in cranio-maxillofacial surgery where defects of the face (e.g., absence of a nose, ear, or eye) have a very big psycho-social impact. Radiological, optical, and laser scans of the patient are converted into a virtual three-dimensional patient with subsequent virtual design of the medical device. AM methods enable the production of custom implants made in a solid or resorbable material, or even in multiple materials. The introduction of AM and related technologies in medicine is a breakthrough in treatment modalities for very complex patient cases that were before untreatable. What’s more, they are reducing operating time and patient discomfort. This progress is serving as a “stepping stone” to the 3D printing of organs in the future. Use of additive manufacturing is demonstrated by showing a case where a patient underwent reconstruction of a large skull defect.