Recently, the Orthopedics Department of Wuhan No.4 Hospital completed the province's first registration of a 3D printed customized medical device with the Hubei Provincial Drug Administration. This latest advancement in the field of medical-engineering integration signifies that patients are poised to enjoy personalized services tailored specifically for them.

Wuhan No.4 Hospital, as a renowned orthopedic hospital in Hubei Province, boasts extensive clinical experience and advanced medical concepts and technologies. The 3D printed customized medical device filed this time is another phased achievement in the field of "medical-engineering integration" by Wuhan No.4 Hospital and Wuhan Mindray Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. The product will primarily be used for prosthesis customization of periprothetic bone defects, applicable to patients with periprothetic bone defects caused by trauma, joint disease, bone tumors, and other etiologies.

According to reports, due to the diverse shapes of bone defects in different patients, it is difficult to find an existing prosthesis that matches. Through 3D printing customization, the hospital uploads the patient's CT data, and engineers reconstruct a digital model based on the specific condition of the bone defect. After communication and adjustment between doctors and engineers, a manufacturing plan is determined. Then, using 3D printing technology, a bone prosthesis of corresponding material and shape can be produced according to the patient's needs, and finally the implantation surgery can be completed.

Jiao Jing, chief physician of the Traumatic Orthopedic Center at Wuhan No.4 Hospital, stated that the prosthesis produced by 3D printing has a porous mesh structure, allowing bone tissue to regenerate and fill the internal cavity, which is beneficial for postoperative recovery and stability. More importantly, this approach does not require the removal of autologous bone tissue and is not limited by existing prostheses on the market. It allows for personalized custom printing based on the actual situation of the patient's bone defect. "It's like buying clothes, shoes, and hats. In the past, you could only buy one size fits all, but now you can have them tailored to your measurements." Such a shift will greatly enhance the specificity and effectiveness of treatment, potentially bringing more benefits to patients.