3D Printed Titanium Alloy "Armor” Reshapes The New Chest Shape

Recently, a team of thoracic surgery experts from Union Hospital Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology successfully removed an invasive fibroma weighing 1.0kg and about 10cm in diameter for a patient with a chest wall tumor, at the same time, they implanted a “privately customized” 3D-printed titanium alloy chest rib cage to help him wear a #titanium alloy “armor” and reshape his new chest contour.

Professor Liao Yongde introduced that the 3D-printed titanium alloy implants can be customized to better fit the size and shape of the patient's chest wall. Its novel design keeps the implant structurally intact, also helps to complete dynamic breathing movements. It is prone to dislocation and displacement after surgery, and will not rub against the chest wall, avoiding local chest wall damage and hematoma. At the same time, the 3D printed titanium alloy implant itself is made of titanium alloy, which is much lighter in weight. Its rigid structure does not produce postoperative deformation, also resists the tension caused by breathing and pulling and the gravity of the chest wall itself. In addition, titanium alloy implants have good tissue compatibility, which can reduce the occurrence of postoperative complications, and they can meet the surgical requirements of chest wall reconstruction.

The complex structure of the chest wall makes it difficult to repair chest wall defects. 3D printing technology provides a completely new solution for chest wall reconstruction surgery. Since 2018, Professor Liao Yongde's team has carried out 6 cases of 3D customized thoracic rib replacement and precise chest wall reconstruction. After the operation, they can stand up their chests like normal people.