Greenville, N.C.-based ECU Health is now offering 3D shoulder replacement surgery for patients with complex shoulder joint damage.
The procedure relieves pain and restores mobility for patients with osteoarthritis, rotator cuff injuries and fractures, according to an Aug. 22 press release.
The process involves physicians performing CT scans of the patient’s shoulder, which are sent to an outside vendor whocreates 3D-printed joint replacements custom-fitted to the patient’s anatomy.
The personalized approach allows orthopedists to perform surgeries with greater precision and effectiveness. Traditional shoulder replacement surgeries involve removing damaged bone and replacing it with standard metal and plastic parts. In cases where bone is missing or existing bone is poor quality, standard parts may not be sufficient, making 3D surgery a better option, according to the release.
"There’s a certain amount of bone that’s required for a traditional replacement," Shawn Yeazell, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at ECU, said in the release. "The 3D-printed shoulder replacement surgery is a solution for those patients who would have no other option."