Image Credit: Penn Medicine
“Health is a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” – World Health Organization, 1948
Article Authors: Gordon Slater| Tandose Sambo
Excessive stresses and strains can injure the feet, and cause a foot fracture. After a physical examination, your orthopaedic specialist will be able to determine if your fracture is acute or severe. At the very least, fractures can be as tiny as small cracks in the bone, and the more severe cases can lead to a clean break of the bone. Orthopaedic treatment of the fracture will be according to the severity of the case.
In some instances methods that restore the mechanical integrity of the joint will be implemented. Your orthopaedic surgeon may install plates, screws or rods in a scaffold frame, in order to protect the foot as it heals.
Medical 3-D Printing for Foot Fractures
The anatomical structure of the foot is actually quite complex. For acute cases of foot fracture, surgical procedures may often be required. Orthopaedic surgeons often face challenges with conducting surgery on the feet, based on their complexity. In some instances, revision surgeries may often have to be conducted, if the desired outcome is not as anticipated.
To alleviate the obstacles, the surgeon can utilise technology such as 3-D printing, in order to have a clear view of the dimensions of the feet. 3-D Technology, provides a vision for the surgical pathway, and enables restoration of parts of the feet where necessary.
Doctors have the ability to optimise their surgical processes in the manner outlined below:
- With a 3-D model of the feet, the complex nature of the patient’s feet can be clearly seen.
- Freedom to design the surgical pathway will be clear, and pre-surgical plans can be conducted.
- Implant design can all be computer generated, and custom fit to the patients dimensions.
The versatility of 3-D printing is emerging and doctors are now able to fabricate hydrogels, scaffolds, vascularized soft tissues and bone implants[1].
Customizable patient care is an area of medical engineering that enables medical practitioners, researchers and design engineers to improve patient care. Beyond the traditional applications, 3-D printing is also good for your orthopaedic health.
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