According to a news report from the Spirit of Jefferson, 3D printing technology is being utilized to develop custom knee replacements for patients. Vivek Neginhal, MD, of Scott Orthopedic Center in Ironton, Ohio, has begun offering this new knee replacement option, which involves the patient getting an exact custom implant created through advanced digital imaging technology. The technology creates a complete “map” of the knee, and then 3D printing technology is used to develop a precise wax mold that helps form the metal component of the total knee.
The custom knee replacement is intended to create a precise fit so that the surgeon does not have to cut away or alter any tissue to place the implant. With less alteration of the person’s regular tissue, this may mean a faster recovery and less postoperative pain. Neginhal explains it is accurate to less than a millimeter, and obtaining an exact fit means the joint won’t be troubled trying to adapt to a foreign shape, according to the Spirit of Jefferson news report.
The Spirit of Jefferson news report indicates that 3D printing technology is an increasingly used type of manufacturing in which components are built by adding successive layers of a substance until the layers create the shape. The exact design for the component is entered into the computerized 3D printing machine before it is produced. Creating an exact match for patients had been cost prohibitive before 3D printing, but while it does have a slightly higher price, it can save money in postsurgery therapies.
Neginhal says an “off-the-shelf” implant is still a good option, but for those who fit the criteria, the new method could turn out even better. Neginhal states, “I believe ConforMIS can present a number of significant advantages to patients, providers and payors without increasing hospital costs and while reducing the need for costly inpatient rehabilitation care.”
Christin Knell, PT, adds that patients with designer implants can get their range of motion back more quickly and with less pain and need for assistance. Knell says in less time, “They’re getting back to work and the things they enjoy in life.”
[Source: Spirit of Jefferson]
