A 25-year-old patient came to the outpatient clinic of orthopaedic oncology at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai three months back. He was confused, dejected and in hope to save his leg. At another tertiary cancer referral hospital, he was informed that he suffers from a tumour in pelvic bone and the surgery involves removal of the affected part, the patient would be bed ridden for nearly 6-7 months and will eventually have one limb shorter than other limb by 5-7 cms. The difficulty in his case was the site of his cancer, around the hip joint.
On seeing the X-rays and MRI of this patient, a team of doctors at the hospital were able to carry out a pelvic bone replacement with a patient-specific implant using 3D printing. They were successful in safely removing the cancer with replacement of the excised pelvic bone with custom made prosthesis. Here’s the best part: this novel and innovative surgical treatment had the same young man walking on his new hip without the fear of cancer. The use of medical 3D printing is steadily increasing in India. 3D-printed models now allow for detailed surgical planning, creation of patient-specific tools and implants tailored to each scenario.
At Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, 3D printing technology is increasingly being integrated into complex surgical planning and personalised treatments. “We have observed a significant rise in the application of 3D printing technology over the last few years,” said Manit Gundavda, consultant, orthopaedic oncology. “In addition to oncology cases, the hospital uses 3D printing for complex joint replacements, limb reconstructions, and revision surgeries, ensuring a better anatomical fit, improved mobility, and faster recovery for patients,” he added.
HS Chhabra, director—orthopaedics and spine & rehabilitation services, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, New Delhi, said, “In our facility, 3D printing technology is mainly utilised for creating precise surgical models, dental implants and prosthetic limbs. The maximum utilisation has been observed in orthopedic surgeries, dental restorations and pre-surgical planning in complex heart procedures.”
For instance, a 45-year-old patient presented with chronic back pain, progressive spinal deformity and functional limitations due to multilevel vertebral anomalies. According to Chhabra, preoperative imaging and 3D reconstruction were used to design patient-specific interbody cages that matched the irregular endplate morphology and spinal curvature from L3 to S1.
“Postoperative recovery was uneventful, with the patient reporting significant pain relief. Thus, 3D printing helped in enhancing surgical accuracy, biomechanical integration and patient-specific treatment in a complex spinal deformity surgery,” Chhabra pointed out. Another patient required complex hip replacement surgery at the hospital. Using a 3D-printed model of the patient’s exact hip anatomy, surgeons rehearsed the procedure beforehand, significantly reducing surgery time and improving recovery. Chhabra said that patients benefit immensely from 3D printing as treatments are highly personalised.
A significant example is a jaw reconstruction surgery carried out at Paras Health, Srinagar, where 3D printing technology was integral. The patient had extensive upper jaw damage due to a tumour. Using a 3D-printed model of the jaw, the surgical team could pre-plan every detail of the reconstruction, from harvesting a fibula-free flap to precisely shaping it to fit the defect. The result was a faster surgery and recovery. “We have been early adopters of this technology. The trend is only expected to accelerate, as the technology becomes more accessible and its advantages become widely recognised,” said Amit Bhushan Sharma, director and unit head cardiology, Paras Health, Gurugram.
While beneficial, barriers to medical 3D printing remain. Doctors caution that high initial investment costs, limited awareness among medical professionals, and regulatory hurdles are key challenges. Also, the availability of skilled professionals trained in using and managing 3D printing technology is currently limited, slowing broader adoption.