For thousands of people who have suffered terrible blast injuries, the only remedy to this is always amputation. Barrel bombs and other explosive devices usually cause the worst form of these injuries.
These explosions are dangerous, damaging the limbs of those who survive them. Since most of these blasts still occur in developing nations without sophisticated medical care, the victims are continuously subjected to amputations.
3D Modeling in Treating Blast Injuries
A cheaper and simpler way of handling such patients is by the use of 3D printed bone bricks. These bone bricks are designed with ceramic materials and polymers and can be stacked together like a Lego brick to fit well where the injuries have left the gaps.
The bricks are degradable, allowing new tissues to form around them. The structure supports the body like the normal bone, enabling the formation of new bones and the bricks dissolve once the bone is formed. The idea of 3D allows surgeons to open a bag of these bricks, put them together, and correct a certain defect, hence aiding the bones’ growth.
A Ray of Hope to the Bomb Victims
From a fabrication medical engineer and researcher, bone, skin, nerve, and cartilage fabrication will be possible by the use of 3D printing. The technique can produce biodegradable and biocompatible materials that may be of use to the human body.
The most used techniques in grafting have several limitations, such as disease transmission and they are quite expensive. However, to solve all these puzzles, some physicians have come up with low-cost 3D printing. The technology creates bone bricks with a porous degradable structure in which an infection-fighting paste can be injected to prevent infections. Furthermore, it enhances bone regeneration and also creates a stable “bone” during the recovery process.
How 3D Technology Works
Several bone injuries are always impossible to heal due to the severity of the blasts. What 3D does is creating a temporary model from bone bricks to fill the gap. The treatment uses medical scaffolds made from ceramics and polymers. These materials are clamped together like a Lego brick, which creates a degradable structure that allows tissues to grow.
Furthermore, the software is also being developed to aid clinicians in managing the severity of the injury and the number of bone bricks to be used. It will also provide more information on the shape and size and how to assemble the brick.
Is the Technique Ready to Be Used on Humans?
The technique is not ready to be used in human beings as it has not reached the clinical testing stage. However, in computer simulations, it has shown some promising results. Once all the testing stages are completed successfully, a usable medical device using 3D will be designed. Besides, the project will be subjected to strict ethical verification and approval. It is believed this technique will bring a lot of hope to those countries that are always affected by these blasts. The brick technology will be a relief to patients in terms of medical cost and experience.
It would interesting to hear what entities like LexaGene Holdings Inc. (TSX.V: LXG) (OTCQB: LXXGF) think the chances of this technology coming to the market quickly are.
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