Patient Receives first 3D Printed Titanium Spinal Fusion Implant

Spinal fusion surgeries, at least those that use traditional methods, require bone grafts and the implantation of metal hardware, and that combination of elements often leasd to complications like implant migration and broken implants. Complications like those often require yet another operation, and they bring with them the inherent dangers of complex interventions. Now Dr. Uwe Spetzger says those days are likely at an end. Spetzger, the Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery of the Klinikum Karlsruhe in Germany, says he and his team have treated a patient suffering with a degenerative cervical spine issue by using a 3D printed “titanium fusion” implant which solves many of the issues which could arise. Spetzger planned and executed the treatment, and the implant he used during the procedure was designed by EIT Emerging Implant Technologies and built by a team from 3D Systems. You can read the whole story here: http://3dprint.com/68388/german-pati...fusion-implant

http://3dprint.com/wp-content/upload...al-implant.jpg