In the future, patients will be able to have 3D-printed prosthetic knee joints

Right now, medicine will use medical plates if someone has to have surgery on their knees because they’re worn out, but in the future they’ll be able to have implants made using 3D printing technology, which can speed up healing and better bear weight.

The purpose of the technology developed by scientists at the University of Bath is to make operations faster and safer, which is an advantage not only for doctors, but also for patients. The first auditions also included 55-year-old David Tarbett, who had had bad knee pain for a few months, but Soon after the operation, he sat on an exercise bike.

During the intervention, which affects the upper part of the tibia, 3D printed plates are inserted into the knee in a way that adjusts its position. Thanks to this, the patient will not feel pain, and the prosthesis will provide a more stable immobilization. To plan how much correction a patient needs, doctors take x-rays and CT scans of the leg. The implant is then made using a 3D printer. Currently, 3D printing technology is still in the testing phase, but it may become widely available in the future.