Australian man first to get 3D printed shinbone

BRISBANE: A 26-year-old Australian man here has become the first person in the world to have a 3D-printed tibia or shinbone transplanted into his leg.

Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) said Reuben Lichter underwent five operations over the past six months – the final one lasting 14 hours, ABC News reported.

Australian Health Minister Cameron Dick said it was a significant step.

“It’s at the outer limits of what is possible with reconstructive surgery in the world, and it’s a world first for Queensland,” he said.

Lichter developed spontaneous onset of tibial osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone, which resulted in the majority of his tibia – 36 centimetres – being destroyed.

Normally, the only option is an above-knee amputation.

But a team of orthopaedic and plastic surgeons led by Dr Michael Wagels at the PAH, has given him a new leg and new hope.

Dick said Lichter and his wife had a baby two days before he was hospitalised.

“So this is a young dad with his first child, who now has the prospect of being able to run around with his children and that is an amazing thing,” he said.

“He was living with a lot of pain because of the collapse in his shinbone and this has stopped the pain.

“He’s very positive about it and the surgeons are positive about the future as well but it’s still going to be a month-by-month process, probably for 18 months [until] we know the full outcome of the surgery.”

The 3D-printed model was manufactured in Singapore.

It is wrapped in biological tissue which then engineers the new bone.

Dick said it was like scaffolding which supported the biological tissue.

“That then grows effectively a new bone in your leg and this is the first time this has been done,” he said.

“We’re not out of the woods yet, there’s a lot of recovery to go through but (Lichter) is very positive, he’s very happy the pain has disappeared and the infection has now gone and he’s living very positively with the future.”