Exploring the Use of Medical 3D Printing in Bone Repair and Regeneration

With the advancement of science and technology, 3D printing technology has become one of the important tools in modern manufacturing and medical fields, especially in the field of bone and joint surgery. Bones have strong self-repair ability, but they cannot completely repair large bone defects and articular cartilage damage caused by trauma, infection, aging, etc. Allogeneic bone transplantation and artificial bone transplantation are prone to immune rejection. Autologous bone is the most ideal material for treating bone damage, but the source of autologous bone is limited and it will cause secondary damage to patients, which cannot meet clinical needs.

Source: 3Dnatives

3D printing, as a technology that can prepare bone tissue engineering scaffolds, effectively makes up for these shortcomings and has been widely used in scaffold molding. The preparation process of bone scaffolds is as follows: first, obtain the three-dimensional data of the repair site through CT scanning or magnetic resonance imaging, then use CAD software to "slice" the three-dimensional model, obtain the data of each layer and import it into the 3D printing system, and finally the equipment stacks the materials layer by layer according to the layered data to prepare the bone scaffold.

Application of 3D printing technology in bone and joint surgery

Pre-operative planning: Through 3D printing technology, doctors can make accurate bone models based on the patient's CT scan data. These models can not only help surgeons better understand the anatomical structure of the lesion, but also be used to simulate the surgical process, thereby increasing the success rate of the operation and shortening the operation time.

Customization of surgical guides: In the repair of complex fractures or bone defects, it is crucial to ensure the precise docking of implants with bones. 3D printing technology can be used to design and make surgical guides, which can guide surgeons to make precise cuts and drillings, thereby improving the accuracy of the operation, shortening the operation time, and reducing the risk of complications.

Source: Imaginarium

Customized artificial prostheses and implants: Traditional joint replacements use standardized prostheses, which often cannot perfectly fit the bone structure of each patient and cannot meet the treatment needs. Using 3D printing technology, doctors can customize personalized implants according to the patient's specific anatomical characteristics. This personalized implant can better match the patient's own bones, provide better biomechanical matching and higher safety, and improve the effectiveness of the operation and the comfort of the patient.

Bioprinting and tissue engineering: Through 3D bioprinting technology, biological materials containing living cells can be printed to repair or regenerate damaged bone tissue. This technology is still in its early stages, but it is expected to achieve complete tissue engineering in the future, fundamentally solving the problems of tissue damage and organ loss.

Application cases of 3D printing in bone medicine

NanoHive Medical successfully completed a $7 million Series C financing in August 2024, with the goal of accelerating the development and commercialization of its 3D printed titanium spinal interbody fusion device. This financing will help NanoHive expand its team in the United States, enter the international market, and develop implants with integrated "smart" sensors to further enrich its soft titanium spinal fusion device product line. NanoHive's technological innovation lies in significantly reducing the stiffness of the implant, making it closer to the biomechanical properties of bones, while improving the implant's clear imaging ability and osteoblast integration effect. These advantages provide a better solution for neurosurgery treatment, which is expected to improve clinical efficacy and patient experience.

The Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine is actively exploring the application of 3D printing technology in veterinary medicine, especially breakthroughs in customized treatment plans in orthopedic surgery. Using 3D printing technology, the research team developed surgical guides for treating limb angular deformities. These guides improve the accuracy and efficiency of surgery through precise customized design, while reducing surgical time and related risks. Although this technology is still in its early stages of development in veterinary medicine, it has shown great potential, promoting the development of veterinary surgical techniques and improving the treatment outcomes of animals. The work of Dr. Barnes and his team has laid the foundation for the future development of veterinary medicine, indicating that 3D printing technology has broad prospects in improving animal welfare.

Dr. Kate Barnes

3D printing technology provides new directions and tools for bone and joint surgery. Through personalized medical solutions, 3D printing technology can not only improve surgical results, but also improve the quality of life of patients. With the advancement of technology, the reduction of costs, and the improvement of relevant regulations and standards, it is expected that this technology will play an increasingly important role in the medical field, especially in bone and joint surgery, and herald a new trend in the future development of the medical field.