British hospital transforms surgery with 3D printing

IndPrint

Stratasys PolyJet 3D printing technology is helping to improve life changing maxillofacial surgeries at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Stratasys’ Objet Eden350V 3D printer is deployed to produce customised models for pre-surgical preparations, enabling a reduction of up to 93% in surgical planning time associated with standard anatomical models. Furthermore, the hospital reports that three to four hours are saved in surgical time per surgery, and costs are reduced of up to £20,000 per operation.

Most of the patients currently benefiting from the hospital’s 3D printing capability are trauma and cancer patients, typically those with facial or cranial tumours. Using Stratasys 3D printing, the maxillofacial prosthetic team converts patients’ CT scans into highly accurate 3D printed replica models, bone replacement parts or metal prosthetic plates that are customised to the exact specification of each patient.

‘If we need to remove bone from a patient’s face, we can produce an exact 3D printed model to develop the cutting guides,’ said Stefan Edmondson, consultant maxillofacial prosthetist at the hospital. ‘This process results in more efficient clinical outcomes and saves the hospital, patient and medical practitioner valuable time and associated costs.’

As well as facilitating the production of surgical cutting guides to speed up extremely advanced procedures, Stratasys PolyJet 3D printing allows surgeons to practice surgeries on true to life 3D printed anatomical models. This provides invaluable insight into procedural outcomes and helps minimise risks.

‘The advances Queen Elizabeth Hospital is making in the use of 3D printing in surgical planning are remarkable,’ said Scott Rader, general manager, Healthcare Solutions, Stratasys. ‘It is a clear demonstration of the ability for 3D printing to enable physicians to better plan, practice and determine the optimal surgical approach. In the current operating climate, physicians need solutions that can save time and money, while also improving quality of care. Queen Elizabeth’s implementation of 3D printing achieves these goals.’