Peking University, Dec. 24, 2016: On November 15, 2016, the world’s first 3D artificial cervical spine implantation surgery involving the upper cervical spine was successfully conducted for a patient with chordoma, a malignant tumor, by Professor Liu Zhongjun, Orthopedic Director of Peking University Third Hospital. The surgery included the resection of four cervical spines involving one upper cervical spine and the installation of 3D artificial cervical spineinvolving the upper cervical spine. One week after the surgery, the patient can get up and move. On December 8, the patient was discharged in good recovery state.
The human cervical spine consists of seven segments, of which two upper cervical spines with special form bear 50% of cervical spine activities, taking part in the function of heart and respiratory system. Once they’re injured, people will die immediately. As for patients with one upper cervical spine invaded by tumor, it is nearly unachievable for doctors to reconstruct the large span cervical spineafter resection with traditional reconstruction techniques. However, 3D printing solves this problem. As Professor Liu noted, “This is not only the world first cervical spine resection surgery involving upper cervical spine, but also the first one using such a large span of 3D printing cervical spine to do the reconstruction. Without 3D printing technology, we can’t find such a piece of suitable fixing equipment.”
As a new technology, it has been 35 years since the concept of 3D printing was first proposed while it’s been used in medical field just for a few years. And Professor Liu’s team’s application of this technology in cervical surgery and repair is the first such operation ever done in the world.. The key to this technique is to reproduce the human tissue as exactly as possible and reconstruct the tissue. The postoperative recovery of the patients has a qualitative improvement compared with the previous titanium mesh restoration in terms of safety and repairing effect.
“Customized 3D prints like this one have so far been completed in 6 cases. Without any problems, they have all achieved very good results. No other hospital in the world can make this happen,” Profess Liu said, “This four-segment implant, which includes the superior cervical spine, is customized for each individual because it’s different for each individual.” Thebiggest highlight of this customized 3D printing spine is the design of a sponge-like microporous structure. The whole implant is composed of pores, the purpose of which is to allow bones to grow into the pores and integrate with the implant.
Professor Liu Zhongjun
Professor Liu added, “3D printing can help find a cure for the intractable disease before and further improve the existing treatment methods, thereby enhancing therapeutic effect.”
In 2009, The Peking University Third Hospital introduced 3D printing technology into the orthopedic field. Through interdisciplinary cooperation and after years of research and clinical observation, the world’s first 3D artificial vertebral body was finally developed and was successfully implanted into a patient with a malignant tumor in July, 2014. The 3D artificial hip joint developed by the team is the first 3D human implant approved by CFDA in 2015 and the world’s first 3D artificial vertebral body approved in 2016. This is not only the world’s first registered 3D artificial vertebral body, but also indicates that our country has been leading in the fields of 3D printing implants in the world.
At present, only three 3D artificial implants have been approved by the CFDA registration and all were developed by Professor Liu’s team.
Written by: Liang Youle
Edited by: Xu Liangdi
