An application that would see 3D printing methods applied to knee replacement surgery by the Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Orthopaedics Department, has been awarded the first prize at a 3D printing competition hosted by Texas A&M University in Qatar (Tamuq).
The tool for orthopaedic patients is expected to significantly improve outcomes for patients by enabling surgeons to individually tailor tools for each patient.
The winning project from HMC, “Patient-Specific Implant Spacer in Infected Total Knee Replacement (TKR) using 3D technology,” was led by Dr Mohamed al-Ateeq al-Dosari, Director of the Bone and Joint Centre, HMC, Dr Shamsi Abdul Hameed, specialist at the Orthopaedics Department, Dr Khalid Hasan, resident in Orthopaedics, and Yasser M al-Hamidi, Laboratory Manager in the Mechanical Engineering Programme at Tamuq.
The project was selected as the best concept and design by a panel of expert judges comprising of eminent faculty and design engineers from Tamuq. Representatives from other local organisations also participated in the competition, including Tamuq, Sidra Medical and Research Center and Qatar Robotic Surgery Centre.
According to Dr al-Dosari, one of the most promising applications of 3D printing in healthcare is its ability to produce patient-specific devices.
“We are delighted to have collaborated with engineers from Tamuq to jointly design this concept that can be routinely used in revision knee surgeries. Using this model, a personalised spacer can be specifically designed for each patient for their respective bone condition,” Dr al-Dosari said.
“We anticipate that the use of this individually-tailored tool in knee replacement surgery will significantly reflect in better outcomes for our patients. This builds from HMC’s commitment to provide the safest, most effective and most compassionate care to each and every one of our patients,” Dr al-Dosari noted, adding that the project is likely to be featured at other international scientific forums.
