There are around 70,000 fractured neck of femur (#NOF or broken hip) cases admitted to hospital annually in the UK, about 1.6 million worldwide. It is a serious and potentially life threatening injury in older people and an increasing financial burden on the Health Service. Subcapital fracture is a common type (where the fracture line extends through the junction of the head and neck of femur) and is generally treated with hemiarthroplasty. Getting the surgery right first time is a critical part of the solution, as treating a subcapital neck of femur fracture well can significantly reduce mortality and morbidity as well as reduce associated costs for the hospital.
A very present topic in Medical 3D Printing is the regulation and cost of 3D Printing and its use in hospitals. At the Materialise World Summit in April, we had the pleasure of hosting a panel discussion with main subject: "3D Printing in Hospitals: Where Are We Heading?" The topics discussed were 3D printing costs, quality and regulation, and the need for clinical proof of the benefits of 3D Printing. During the panel discussion, we used live polls in which the audience could answer a series of questions. Now we would like to know your opinion.
The orthopedic department at the AZ Monica Hospital consists of innovation-driven caregivers who believe Medical 3D Printing has become an essential tool to improve patient care. They believe that it should be part of the medical imaging and that close collaboration with the radiology department is therefore essential.
The International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty (ISTA) is one of the leading international conferences about innovation in orthopedics. One of the best aspects about the conference is the mix of orthopedic surgeons, academics and representatives from the industry, who come together for fruitful discussions about new and ongoing topics in arthroplasty. We look back at the highlights and the insights we gained.
The end of November is approaching and with it, one of the biggest medical events of the year: RSNA. Hosted by the Radiological Society of North America, this event is an opportunity for radiologists across the world to get up to date with the latest innovations and evolutions in the field of radiology. One such innovation is 3D Printing – here’s what attendees can look forward to for this year’s edition.
In his talk, "Health Economics: 3D is Here, But Can We Afford It Moving Forward?” Philip Tack discussed the cost-effectiveness of medical innovations, more specifically, through a case involving a custom 3D-printed implant for a severe acetabular defect.
Global awareness of the benefits of 3D Printing has been growing steadily over the past years. In Asia, the technology is not as widespread compared to the United States or Europe - but that looks likely to change soon, with India heading the vanguard on the adoption of the technology in particular. The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences is among the first hospitals in India to set up their own 3D printing lab, and will hopefully inspire surrounding countries to adopt the technology.
Just over two years ago, Nathalie Dufaut Danjon was shot by a man with a hunting rifle. The bullet entered her shoulder joint through the front and exited through her shoulder blade. Her shoulder's bony anatomy was destroyed, though the nerves were not affected.
CADskills is a medical device startup based in Ghent, Belgium. Their expertise lies in patient-specific implants, with a focus on CMF and neurosurgery patients. What is putting them in Materialise's spotlight however, is their AMSJI: a revolutionary 3D-printed titanium jaw implant that will make life better for extreme maxillary atrophy sufferers. Now there's something to chew on. Or with.
Thanks to Medical 3D Printing, surgeons at Boston Children’s Hospital in the United States have treated a young baby with an encephalocele: a rare disorder where part of the fetus’s brain starts growing outside its head in the womb.