The potential of three-dimensional (3D) printing to transform healthcare and medical education has led to Kenyan hospitals setting up their own in-house facilities, according to speakers at the 3D Printing in Healthcare Symposium hosted by Aga Khan University Hospital and Aga Khan University, in Nairobi.
3D printing involves the creation of solid objects from digital files with the help of technology that ‘print’ layers of plastic or powder in a certain sequence.
Speakers at the symposium noted that 3D printing was transforming the way surgeons prepare for operations and noted that the technology could also be used to create customised prosthetics that could restore lost body functions.
“Each patient’s body parts are unique… ” said Aga Khan University Hospital CEO Shawn Bolouki. “3D printing enables doctors to know the exact anatomy before the surgery and this is important.”
Chris Maguiri, founder of a company that provides 3D printing services, Micrive Institute, noted that CT scan facial images could now be converted into precise replicas that can benefit patients who have suffered head injuries after an accident.
“Specialists used a CT scan to create a 3D reconstruction of the man's face,” Mr Maguiri said. “A replica of his mouth was then 3D-printed and used as a template to produce a model, which was then hardened and fitted with teeth. With the prosthesis adjusted to fit snugly in place, the man's chewing, swallowing, speaking and other mouth movements considerably improved.”
Dr Andrew Cook, the author of a book – 3D Printing in Medicine – noted that 3D models could also be used by surgeons preparing for complicated cases involving heart defects.
“It [3D printing] makes it possible to do pre-surgical planning and practice surgery where doctors can print models using CT scans. This saves time because the surgeons go in already knowing what approach to take,” said Dr Cook, a senior lecturer at University College London’s Institute of Cardiovascular Science.
Dr Edward Chege, a consultant radiologist at AKUH Nairobi noted that the hospital already has access to advanced imaging technology that could be used to expand the applications of 3D printing to the benefit of patients in Kenya.