Patient gets 3D printed bone mould

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia’s first 3D printed moulded heel bone replacement has been performed successfully on a patient with a rare but aggressive tumour.

A team of oncologists from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which carried out the operation, said the patient is recovering well with no complications.They noted that the 3D printing method is “a very efficient and economical option” for patients, in view of financial constraints faced by government hospitals in providing replacement implants.

The preparation and surgery on Jan 24 was led by the Orthopaedic Oncology team, headed by Dr Aaron Gerarde Paul, Dr Eyrique Goh Boay Heong and Dr Tee Kok Keat.

Chief assistant medical officer Mohd Sukri Umar spearheaded the engineering component of the project with a donated 3D printer.