Doctors at the Dutch University Hospital Utrecht successfully transplanted into a 22-year-old woman woman patient one plastic skull, which had been made with the help of a 3D printer.
The UMC of the University of Utrecht states that this surgery is a world first. The woman needed surgery because her skull grew thicker, compressing her mind and damaging her function. Her skull was thickened 5cm, while a normal skull is up to about 1,5 centimeters. The surgery took place over 3 months but the University Hospital recently released it. The patient's details were not known for obvious reasons, but it was reported that the woman had already returned to her work and her normal life.
Plastic
Her medical team, headed by neurologist Ben Verweij, has decided to replace her skull with a plastic made by a special Australian company. The surgery took 23 hours, and it was a complete success, the hospital reported.
"The implants that used to be done by hand, on site in the operating room, using a type of cement, were far from ideal," said Verweij. “Using 3D printing we can make an exact size. This not only has aesthetic advantages, but also patients' brains often recover better than using the old method."
The hospital says the technique can be used in patients who have other problems bone or to help with recovery people who have suffered severe head injuries.
Other hospitals have been fitted with skull implants successfully in patients, but this is the first time a full skull has been replaced, the surgeon said.
Pay attention to the relevant video below because it shows harsh images from the operation. Unsuitable for under 12 years. See it at your own risk. It is in Dutch with English subtitles.
