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3-D Printers, a powerful instrument for Surgery

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The era of 3-D printing has arrived and noone doubts it. 3-D printers are supposed to bring a huge evolution in so many aspects of our life and medical science wouldn’t be an exception. Let’s focus on a field of medicine that is closer to our interests: Surgery!

Imagine that a complex plastic surgery has to be carried out and the surgeon has already performed a similar procedure before in an exact replica of the part that is going to be treated? How is this possible? Obviously by means of the powerful technology of 3-D Printers. It becomes quite obvious how much more confident, accurate, cool and concentrarted a surgeon would be having practiced on such a replica.

How exactly such technology can help? Scientist believe that the benefit of practicing in a 3-D printer replica will drastically reduce the length of an operation, surgical complications and finally will cut costs.

And how 3-D printers work? Their technology makes it evitable to construct three dimensional objects based on digital files like the ones created by CT or MRI Scans. There is not a serious limit in the objects a 3-D printer can make. Replcica Spines, rib cages, blood vessels, skulls even brains are already constructed by means of this technology.

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Dr. Peter Weinstock, director of Boston Children’s Hospital’s simulator program, states: “We’re trying to reduce surprise,” and added “We’re trying to make surgeons more prepared to take care of these kids. The fact that they’ve seen the anatomy before is a complete game changer.”

But how exactly does such a replica help the surgeon? Dr. J. Meara, chief plastic surgeon at Children’s says that the practice with a model made him change his plan many times so as to get the best for each case while at the same moment limiting the number of incisions that the patient will suffer: “In the past, sometimes you had to make many incisions in the operating room,” and adds “Now I’m making those decisions on a model ahead of time.”

Another eloquent example that shows how technology can drastically improve our lives when properly used. And one of the best hopes for plastic surgery!

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