3D printing has finally taken a huge step in the orthopedic field. Recently, this technology has helped develop procedures and impants to replace seventy five percent of a patient’s skull. Oxford Performance Materials, the Connecticut based company behind this invention, recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the skull implant. The success of the first surgical operation on March 4th will certainly open the door and encourage future procedures of the same sort. The advantage of 3D printing originates from its use of digitally scanned models of a patient’s skull. These 3D images are printed to match the object precisely; in fact, the precision can even make tiny surface and edge details on the replacement part that encourages the growth of cells and allow bone to attach more easily.
As much as 300 to 500 U.S. patients are in need of skull bone replacements every month. These surgeries are due to various traumas that range cancerous bone in the patients' skulls to car accident victims and military troopers suffering from head injuries. Furthermore, the company hopes to expand their 3D printing ability to encompass all parts of the human body. Preparations are already being made to submit other 3D-printed parts for FDA approval – a market worth $50 to $100 for each bone replacement type. Oxford Performance Materials use a special polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) material that has been proven to be suitable for human implants.