Taipei hospital uses 3D printing to aid bone reconstruction surgery

台北一家醫院利用3D列印技術輔助骨骼重建手術

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tri-Service General Hospital used 3D printing technology to assist in surgery to reconstruct the skull of a 25-year-old man whose facial bones were severely damaged by a gunshot, helping him regain his facial appearance.

At a Thursday press conference, Hsu Kuo-feng (徐國峰), a surgeon at the hospital, said the man arrived with severe injuries to his forehead, nasal bones, and facial tissues, with part of his brain exposed. The hospital launched cross-departmental treatment, beginning with the removal of damaged tissue, followed by cranial reconstruction and skin repair, per CNA.

To avoid the long and complicated process of traditional facial bone reconstruction, where surgeons typically need to repeatedly adjust bone angles, the hospital used 3D-printed models to plan the surgery in advance.

Doctors used virtual reconstruction to map out the jaw, forehead, and nasal bones, then cut the bones during surgery according to these templates. This greatly shortened the operation time and improved accuracy. The team also designed the implants to match the man’s facial proportions, helping restore a more natural appearance.

After undergoing about 10 surgeries, including nasal reconstruction, the man regained breathing and eating functions. His recovery has been stable, though he lost his sense of smell due to nerve damage and occasionally experiences nasal congestion.

Hsu said that 3D printing has been used in bone and plastic surgery to create surgical models and implants such as artificial joints and bone screws. However, it is rarely applied to large traumatic injuries, making this operation particularly challenging.

With the development of virtual surgery and navigation technologies, plastic surgery has become more intelligent, Hsu added. These technologies help make bone reconstruction, facial fracture repair, and reconstruction after tumor removal more precise and safer.