The lower jaw of the elderly woman was badly infected, so that removal was necessary. With the age of the patient in mind, was a tailor-made implant chosen instead of 'classical' microsurgical reconstructive surgery, which can last long and risky. The replacement of the jaw were swallowing and chewing movements and maintain a free airway.
It is the first custom-made implant in the world to replace an entire jaw. Also be the way in which the jaw has been produced,, by means of 3D-printing of titanium powder, is unique. The method was developed by Research Institute BIOMED at Hasselt University, in cooperation with more surgeons of the Orbis Medical Center Sittard-Geleen and companies Xilloc Medical BV, Maastricht and Cam bioceramics BV of Leiden.
The implant is slightly heavier than a natural jaw, but according to scientists is not disturbing. Because the jaw by means of 3D printing was made, it took only a few hours before that work was completed. Other methods take several days before an implant is done.
"Computer technology will cause a revolution in the medical world. We just need to learn to deal with,'' said Professor Jules Poukens of Biomed. "In the future doctors and engineers together to design computer and the operating table. This is really innovative." According to the University of Hasselt, the so-called,, patient-specific implants" in the future increasingly used.
The patient underwent surgery in June last year in the hospital in Sittard-Geleen. The woman was a day later near normal speaking and swallowing. The healing process according to the researchers took a bit longer, but went through the appropriate antibiotics also progressing well.
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