logo
  • South Africa

    South Africa

    No money to pay R3 000 housing bribes, now they invade land
    • 2019-02-17 12:36:04 PM
    • 38

    No money to pay R3 000 housing bribes, now they invade land

    Parents complain about Pretoria's poorly maintained parks
    • 2019-02-18 02:50:32 PM
    • 27

    Parents complain about Pretoria's poorly maintained parks

    City of Cape Town extends contract despite PP probe
    • 2019-02-17 11:22:14 AM
    • 15

    City of Cape Town extends contract despite PP probe

    Three killed, one seriously injured in Centurion crash
    • 2019-02-17 12:42:23 PM
    • 12

    Three killed, one seriously injured in Centurion crash

  • World

    World

    24 bodies retrieved from flooded Zimbabwe mine
    • 2019-02-18 10:08:51 AM
    • 11

    24 bodies retrieved from flooded Zimbabwe mine

    Mom believes twin 'sacrificed' herself during birth to save premature sister
    • 2019-02-18 06:01:41 PM
    • 9

    Mom believes twin 'sacrificed' herself during birth to save premature sister

    Britain's weapons sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful: UK report
    • 2019-02-17 09:48:52 AM
    • 8

    Britain's weapons sales to Saudi Arabia unlawful: UK report

    Mother who helped free son from Venezuelan jail dies
    • 2019-02-17 11:37:39 AM
    • 8

    Mother who helped free son from Venezuelan jail dies

  • Business

    Business

    Discovery bank ready to go live
    • 2019-02-18 06:39:47 AM
    • 645

    Discovery bank ready to go live

    IRBA concludes sanctions hearings on Gupta-linked Linkway auditor
    • 2019-02-17 07:55:11 PM
    • 94

    IRBA concludes sanctions hearings on Gupta-linked Linkway auditor

    SA's sugar industry declining for the past 19 years
    • 2019-02-17 09:09:18 AM
    • 61

    SA's sugar industry declining for the past 19 years

    ANA celebrates its fourth birthday in great shape
    • 2019-02-18 11:03:30 AM
    • 59

    ANA celebrates its fourth birthday in great shape

  • Technology
  • Sport

    Sport

    Specman stars as Bulls rumble over hapless Stormers at Loftus
    • 2019-02-16 07:54:10 PM
    • 11

    Specman stars as Bulls rumble over hapless Stormers at Loftus

    Monfils beats Wawrinka to win Rotterdam Open
    • 2019-02-17 08:05:14 PM
    • 11

    Monfils beats Wawrinka to win Rotterdam Open

    Winner of North-South clash will present Tuks or Maties early Varsity Cup lead
    • 2019-02-18 11:05:08 AM
    • 11

    Winner of North-South clash will present Tuks or Maties early Varsity Cup lead

    Stormers coach Fleck refuses to blame off-field turmoil for embarrassing defeat to the Bulls
    • 2019-02-17 12:02:53 PM
    • 10

    Stormers coach Fleck refuses to blame off-field turmoil for embarrassing defeat to the Bulls

  • Entertainment

    Entertainment

    DJ Cleo claps back at Boity, drags Nomzamo in the mix
    • 2019-02-18 01:12:28 PM
    • 37

    DJ Cleo claps back at Boity, drags Nomzamo in the mix

    Investec Cape Town Art Fair honours emerging artists
    • 2019-02-17 08:42:52 AM
    • 21

    Investec Cape Town Art Fair honours emerging artists

    Emtee: Only in SA does your car get judged by someone without one
    • 2019-02-17 08:01:38 AM
    • 18

    Emtee: Only in SA does your car get judged by someone without one

    Ellen Page on becoming The White Violin in 'The Umbrella Academy'
    • 2019-02-18 02:42:56 PM
    • 16

    Ellen Page on becoming The White Violin in 'The Umbrella Academy'

  • Politics

    Politics

    'I come from old money, my hands are clean,' says Patrice Motsepe
    • 2019-02-18 12:40:14 PM
    • 21

    'I come from old money, my hands are clean,' says Patrice Motsepe

    #StateCaptureInquiry: 'If nuclear had proceeded, SA would've been in trouble'
    • 2019-02-18 03:58:45 PM
    • 18

    #StateCaptureInquiry: 'If nuclear had proceeded, SA would've been in trouble'

    #BudgetSpeech2019: Tito Mboweni's Eskom nightmare
    • 2019-02-17 12:07:37 PM
    • 11

    #BudgetSpeech2019: Tito Mboweni's Eskom nightmare

    Experts cast doubt on sabotage threats against Eskom
    • 2019-02-18 06:09:57 AM
    • 10

    Experts cast doubt on sabotage threats against Eskom

  • Opinion

    Opinion

    Abolition of Angola’s anti-gay laws may pave way for regional reform
    • 2019-02-18 12:09:38 PM
    • 16

    Abolition of Angola’s anti-gay laws may pave way for regional reform

    BLF is just like Jimmy Kruger
    • 2019-02-17 07:16:03 AM
    • 11

    BLF is just like Jimmy Kruger

    BOOK EXTRACT: The Rise and Demise of the Afrikaners
    • 2019-02-17 10:46:34 AM
    • 11

    BOOK EXTRACT: The Rise and Demise of the Afrikaners

    What mapping Kenya’s child deaths for 50 years revealed
    • 2019-02-17 07:46:05 PM
    • 9

    What mapping Kenya’s child deaths for 50 years revealed

  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    All you need to know about hyperpigmentation
    • 2019-02-18 04:37:20 PM
    • 22

    All you need to know about hyperpigmentation

    WATCH 'It was terrifying': Furious elephants charge, surround safari vehicle
    • 2019-02-18 12:49:06 PM
    • 18

    WATCH 'It was terrifying': Furious elephants charge, surround safari vehicle

    Kids with multiple siblings at greater risk of getting bullied
    • 2019-02-18 03:34:24 PM
    • 13

    Kids with multiple siblings at greater risk of getting bullied

    5 minutes with Tsogo Sun's Wayne Smith
    • 2019-02-17 09:03:54 AM
    • 11

    5 minutes with Tsogo Sun's Wayne Smith

  • Video

    Video

    Koffee With Karan - Episode 18 Season 6 *FULL Episode
    • 2019-02-18 11:19:55 AM
    • 25

    Koffee With Karan - Episode 18 Season 6 *FULL Episode

    2019 Monster Energy Supercross Round 7 Arlington 450 Main HD
    • 2019-02-17 10:48:47 AM
    • 23

    2019 Monster Energy Supercross Round 7 Arlington 450 Main HD

    Koffee with Karan Season 6 Episode 18 - Tiger Shroff
    • 2019-02-18 04:07:51 AM
    • 21

    Koffee with Karan Season 6 Episode 18 - Tiger Shroff

    hélas je ne pensais pas qu'elle pouvait faire ça QUELLE COURAGE 🔥✨🔥 - ( WEBA le DÉJANTÉ )
    • 2019-02-16 06:40:00 PM
    • 17

    hélas je ne pensais pas qu'elle pouvait faire ça QUELLE COURAGE 🔥✨🔥 - ( WEBA le DÉJANTÉ )

Lifestyle

http://www.safrica24.com/lifestyle/surgeons-now-able-to-print-out-life-sized-models-of-patients-bodies/151780-news
Surgeons now able to print out life-sized models of patients' bodies
  • 2019-02-09 05:44:12 PM
  • 8

Surgeons now able to print out life-sized models of patients' bodies

Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University have opened their own medical three-dimensional (3D) printing lab, allowing surgeons to print out life-sized models of the anatomy they are going to operate on.

Orthopaedic surgeon and anatomy lecturer Dr Rudolph Venter said 3D printing technology had been used in medicine for a long time already, but at such an exorbitant cost that it could only be used in the realm of funded research.

Now, instead of paying thousands of rand for an engineering firm to produce a 3D model, doctors from Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital’s Division of Orthopaedic Surgery are able to print their own - for just a couple hundred rand.

“Something that was out of reach for most patients is now done for people walking off the street into Tygerberg Hospital - 3D printers are now very affordable and the software is so easy to use. The orthopaedic surgeons are learning how to do it,” Venter said.

The 3D printers have been used for 10 big cases so far, seven of which were public health-care patients. In one case, Venter needed to cut a tumour out of surrounding bone, together with lead surgeon Professor Nando Ferreira. The patient had CT scans done and the imaging data was sent to the printer to be mapped into a 3D object. A life-size model of the anatomy was then printed out, with the bone printed in hard plastic and the tumour tissue in softer, rubbery plastic.

Just by feeling the model in his hand, Venter was able to familiarise himself with exactly which parts were tumour and needed to be excised.

The purpose of the model goes beyond lab preparation, though. “We sterilise the model and take it to theatre with us,” Venter said.

During the operation, he could have one hand on the actual bone and tumour, and one hand on the 3D printed model to guide him.

“It’s like having this amazing, tactile road map of the patient’s anatomy inside their body.”

Beyond getting familiar with a particular patient’s anatomy, the 3D printing models also allow surgeons to rehearse procedures. One such patient needed a hip implant, but he had achondroplasia - a bone growth disorder which causes dwarfism - so his bones were not the standard size.

“We weren’t sure whether the hip replacement implants were going to fit, so we printed out his hip bone and practised it,” Venter said.

Together with surgeons Dr Koos Jordaan and Dr Gerard Pienaar, they cut the printed femur and put the implant in.

“We went to theatre feeling like we’d done this operation before. You know what to expect; your fingers have felt this before.”

A kilogram of the PLA plastic used to load up the printer costs about R400, and Venter said he could print about 20 femurs with that much plastic.

In another case last year, surgeons needed to correct a child’s spine deformity by removing a partially formed vertebra without damaging the complex structures surrounding it. Venter printed out a 3D model of the child’s spine for spinal surgeon DrSanesh Miseer.

“He was so excited about this model, he took it home and dissembled it to deeply understand exactly what the patient’s anatomy is going to look like,” Venter said.

“He said it was like taking a CT scan out of the screen and holding it in your hand.”

Venter hopes the printers will benefit many different medical disciplines.

“It’s going to open a lot of doors,” he said. “We’re very excited for the implications of training medical students, and it’s awesome to have our patients benefit at grass roots level.”

In the future, the printers will be used to produce instruments that are tailor-made for patients.

Surgeons will also be able to design implants specific to each patient and send those designs off to be manufactured by engineering firms with the capability to 3D print metal objects using titanium powder.

Weekend Argus

  • Surgeons now able to print out life-sized models of patients' bodies
  • Surgeons now able to print out life-sized models of patients' bodies
  • Surgeons now able to print out life-sized models of patients' bodies

Related News

#MyHeart belongs to the 3 men in my life
  • 2019-02-21 04:08:34 PM

#MyHeart belongs to the 3 men in my life

World Spay Day highlights the importance of fixing our pets
  • 2019-02-21 04:08:33 PM

World Spay Day highlights the importance of fixing our pets

Airline passengers to get more gender options from airlines
  • 2019-02-21 03:24:28 PM

Airline passengers to get more gender options from airlines

A whole new world awaits at Pomene
  • 2019-02-21 03:05:38 PM

A whole new world awaits at Pomene

Which supermarket's sirloin steak should be the star of your meal?
  • 2019-02-21 02:46:04 PM

Which supermarket's sirloin steak should be the star of your meal?

A R3,000 bill for Valentine's Day burgers
  • 2019-02-19 11:31:49 AM
  • 102

A R3,000 bill for Valentine's Day burgers

Photographer earns his stripes with R1.7m SA record
  • 2019-02-20 08:22:15 AM
  • 60

Photographer earns his stripes with R1.7m SA record

Veronica Beard AW19 #NYFW hair trends
  • 2019-02-19 12:46:34 PM
  • 31

Veronica Beard AW19 #NYFW hair trends

KZN Tourism looks to position region as a top business tourism destination
  • 2019-02-19 05:02:34 PM
  • 25

KZN Tourism looks to position region as a top business tourism destination

Business travellers, here's why you should book your trips in advance
  • 2019-02-20 12:04:58 PM
  • 14

Business travellers, here's why you should book your trips in advance

All you need to know about hyperpigmentation
  • 2019-02-18 04:37:20 PM
  • 22

All you need to know about hyperpigmentation

WATCH 'It was terrifying': Furious elephants charge, surround safari vehicle
  • 2019-02-18 12:49:06 PM
  • 18

WATCH 'It was terrifying': Furious elephants charge, surround safari vehicle

Kids with multiple siblings at greater risk of getting bullied
  • 2019-02-18 03:34:24 PM
  • 13

Kids with multiple siblings at greater risk of getting bullied

Latest News

Miscarriage: Why no one wants to talk about it in the workplace
Lifestyle
  • 2019-02-21 06:35:01 PM
  • 0

Miscarriage: Why no one wants to talk about it in the workplace

Nkandla municipality has no manager following high court ruling
Politics
  • 2019-02-21 06:30:21 PM
  • 0

Nkandla municipality has no manager following high court ruling

Kylie Jenner Reacts To Tristan Thompson Cheating On Khloe Kardashian With Jordyn Woods
Video
  • 2019-02-21 06:26:11 PM
  • 1

Kylie Jenner Reacts To Tristan Thompson Cheating On Khloe Kardashian With Jordyn Woods

Confusion after Caster Semenya says she has no knowledge of government's R25m backing of her case
Sport
  • 2019-02-21 06:24:51 PM
  • 0

Confusion after Caster Semenya says she has no knowledge of government's R25m backing of her case

In Iceland, take the glacier less travelled
Lifestyle
  • 2019-02-21 06:16:49 PM
  • 5

In Iceland, take the glacier less travelled

Sri Lanka edge closer to becoming the first sub-continent side to win a series in SA
Sport
  • 2019-02-21 06:10:00 PM
  • 1

Sri Lanka edge closer to becoming the first sub-continent side to win a series in SA

Courteney Cox wants to give women hope
Entertainment
  • 2019-02-21 06:09:22 PM
  • 0

Courteney Cox wants to give women hope

De Kock rescues brittle SA batting as Proteas pick up late Sri Lanka wickets
Sport
  • 2019-02-21 06:08:09 PM
  • 1

De Kock rescues brittle SA batting as Proteas pick up late Sri Lanka wickets

Operations cancelled at Thelle Mogoerane as clean linen runs out
South Africa
  • 2019-02-21 06:01:11 PM
  • 0

Operations cancelled at Thelle Mogoerane as clean linen runs out

Bruce Cassidy Reacts To Bruins Trade For Charlie Coyle
Video
  • 2019-02-21 05:47:11 PM
  • 2

Bruce Cassidy Reacts To Bruins Trade For Charlie Coyle

Treasury support for Eskom will come to R230 billion over a decade – Mboweni
Business
  • 2019-02-21 05:45:20 PM
  • 0

Treasury support for Eskom will come to R230 billion over a decade – Mboweni

De Lille embarks on door-to-door campaign in Soweto
South Africa
  • 2019-02-21 05:42:46 PM
  • 3

De Lille embarks on door-to-door campaign in Soweto

Couple grow a cabbage the size of a person
World
  • 2019-02-21 05:38:43 PM
  • 0

Couple grow a cabbage the size of a person

Jiba tells Mokgoro inquiry she 'faced unfair and unjustified attacks'
Politics
  • 2019-02-21 05:38:31 PM
  • 4

Jiba tells Mokgoro inquiry she 'faced unfair and unjustified attacks'

Musk's software can create 'fairly stunning' texts
Business
  • 2019-02-21 05:35:30 PM
  • 1

Musk's software can create 'fairly stunning' texts

Fleck: Fullback gives Damian Willemse more time and space to do his magic
Sport
  • 2019-02-21 05:34:34 PM
  • 5

Fleck: Fullback gives Damian Willemse more time and space to do his magic

Opinion: Why we are over gin
Lifestyle
  • 2019-02-21 05:32:15 PM
  • 4

Opinion: Why we are over gin

Sex abuse survivors describe horrors to world's bishops
World
  • 2019-02-21 05:30:40 PM
  • 2

Sex abuse survivors describe horrors to world's bishops

'I was not treated like a human being', says murder accused
South Africa
  • 2019-02-21 05:26:53 PM
  • 4

'I was not treated like a human being', says murder accused

Darwin, Mainecoon Ft. Maky Lavender - Too Far (Music Video)
Video
  • 2019-02-21 05:22:30 PM
  • 2

Darwin, Mainecoon Ft. Maky Lavender - Too Far (Music Video)

Follow

Popular

  • 10X Investments takes on Mboweni's #Budget2019
    Business

    10X Investments takes on Mboweni's #Budget2019

  • How can local cloud data centres benefit SA businesses
    Business

    How can local cloud data centres benefit SA businesses

  • Solidarity says Amcu members 'striking themselves into poverty'
    South Africa

    Solidarity says Amcu members 'striking themselves into poverty'

  • Many bitter pills to swallow in #Budget2019 – PwC
    Business

    Many bitter pills to swallow in #Budget2019 – PwC

  • Intervention needed as chicken imports reach record high
    Business

    Intervention needed as chicken imports reach record high

  • Grounding CemAir could lead to major retrenchments, warns Solidarity
    Business

    Grounding CemAir could lead to major retrenchments, warns Solidarity

  • Bosasa to close after being ditched by SA banks
    Business

    Bosasa to close after being ditched by SA banks

  • Saica terminates former VBS chairperson Matodzi's membership
    Business

    Saica terminates former VBS chairperson Matodzi's membership

  • #StateCaptureInquiry: Focus on Eskom reports as Jabu Mabuza set to testify
    Politics

    #StateCaptureInquiry: Focus on Eskom reports as Jabu Mabuza set to testify

  • Look out Beyoncé, NatGeo reaches 100m Instagram followers
    Lifestyle

    Look out Beyoncé, NatGeo reaches 100m Instagram followers

  • Zimbabwe launches new currency measure in bid to ease economic crisis
    South Africa

    Zimbabwe launches new currency measure in bid to ease economic crisis

  • Berlin blackout leaves thousands without power, heat for 24 hours
    World

    Berlin blackout leaves thousands without power, heat for 24 hours

  • Budget hot seat more an Eskom electric chair
    Business

    Budget hot seat more an Eskom electric chair

  • Dlamini lashes out at IAAF's 'colonial ideas' of African female body
    South Africa

    Dlamini lashes out at IAAF's 'colonial ideas' of African female body

  • DUT outlines violence in urgent court bid against protesting students
    South Africa

    DUT outlines violence in urgent court bid against protesting students

safrica24.com

safrica24.com © 2017 Contact Us