LINE

Text:AAAPrint
Sci-tech

Xi'an hospital disc surgeons pioneer use of 3D printer

1
2019-05-20 09:12:41Global Times Editor : Li Yan ECNS App Download
Doctors at a Xi'an hospital check the patient's X-ray to assess how the artificial disc is performing. (Photo/Courtesy of Honghui Hospital)

Doctors at a Xi'an hospital check the patient's X-ray to assess how the artificial disc is performing. (Photo/Courtesy of Honghui Hospital)

The world's first 3D printed cervical intervertebral disc replacement operation was successfully completed in Northwest China and hailed by experts on Sunday as a milestone in combining high technology with clinical medicine.

Doctors at Honghui Hospital, Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, used a cervical intervertebral disc produced by a 3D printer to replace the impaired cervical intervertebral disc of a patient, the first for this body part in the world, the Xi'an Daily reported on Friday.

A cervical intervertebral disc produced by a 3D printer. (Photo/Courtesy of Honghui Hospital)
A cervical intervertebral disc produced by a 3D printer. (Photo/Courtesy of Honghui Hospital)

Surgeon Qian Lixiong told the Global Times on Sunday they first took a CT scan of the patient and then designed a personalized prosthesis based on the image data. 

"The 3D printed cervical intervertebral disc replacement method is a breakthrough in clinical medicine practice," Qian said.

Most hospitals in China use an imported prosthesis that costs at least 60,000 yuan ($8,673) and whose design is based on foreign people. 

The 3D version costs about 40,000 yuan and is personalized according to the patient's image data, making it more compatible with Chinese patients.

"We're going to promote and popularize the technology if later research verifies the incidence rate of using a 3D artificial cervical disc is slower than that of using the imported prostheses," Qian said.

Related news

MorePhoto

Most popular in 24h

MoreTop news

MoreVideo

News
Politics
Business
Society
Culture
Military
Sci-tech
Entertainment
Sports
Odd
Features
Biz
Economy
Travel
Travel News
Travel Types
Events
Food
Hotel
Bar & Club
Architecture
Gallery
Photo
CNS Photo
Video
Video
Learning Chinese
Learn About China
Social Chinese
Business Chinese
Buzz Words
Bilingual
Resources
ECNS Wire
Special Coverage
Infographics
Voices
LINE
Back to top Links | About Us | Jobs | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
Copyright ©1999-2019 Chinanews.com. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.