A special team of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Delhi doctors on 25th April have done a hip joint replacement surgery using 3D printed medical implant for the first time in India.
The team included doctors from various disciplines – orthopaedic, vascular surgeons and critical care specialists – who performed an eight-hour-long surgery on the right hip joint of 40-year-old Amit Bahnot and removed a portion of his pelvic bone.
When Bahnot had gone to the AIIMS doctors, his pelvic bone was severely damaged, which prompted them to go for a 3D printing technology. The decision was finalised five months back. Doctors performed a CT scan to figure out the dimensions for the implant and used a computer to make the implant fit perfectly.
The head of orthopaedic department Dr Rajesh Malhotra told HT, “First we modelled the defect and then modelled the implant. We kept fine-tuning it and after six-seven attempts we finally got what was perfect for him.” He added this procedure is adopted in very few places around the world.
According to doctors, the longevity of the replacement depends on how perfectly it fits. Generally, it can last for approximately 15 years, and costs only rupees two lakh in India. The expenses for the same kind of surgery can cost Rs 20 lakh aboard.
