Vinmec Times City International Hospital achieved a major milestone in Southeast Asia on September 11th, 2024, with the region’s first chest wall reconstruction using a 3D printed titanium implant.
Addressing an 11.5 cm defect in the chest wall of a 55-year-old woman following the removal of a malignant mediastinal tumor, the procedure restored crucial heart and lung functions while improving the patient’s quality of life.
The tumor had extensively invaded her left chest wall, affecting ribs 2, 3, and 4, the upper lobe of the left lung, and part of the sternum. Severe compression on the heart, lungs, and surrounding organs necessitated wide excision surgery, which involved the removal of the sternum and nearby ribs, the only viable treatment for the late-stage tumor.
Developed in collaboration with VinUniversity’s 3D Technology Center in Medicine, his landmark surgery offers a new solution to large chest wall defects that were previously a significant challenge in Vietnam.
Reflecting on the achievement, Prof. Trung Dung Tran, Director of Vinmec Healthcare System‘s Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Disorders according to a report, emphasized the extensive collaboration involved in developing this implant.
He described the project as one of the most challenging Vinmec has undertaken, with VinUniversity’s 3D Technology Center contributing critical expertise to the design and production. Tran noted that the result, a fully Vietnamese-developed and manufactured implant, represents one of the most complete designs to date.
How was the surgery performed?
For this surgery, the team at Vinmec integrated an advanced 3D printed titanium implant with a unique mesh that prevents lung hernia while providing vital protection for the heart and lungs.
By combining both functions within a single component, the design minimizes the need for multiple implants, reducing risks of post-surgical complications and implant displacement. Created with a Nikon SLM Solution’s SLM 280 metal printing system, VinUniversity, and Vinmec’s design specialists refined the implant over several weeks, ensuring it precisely matched the patient’s anatomy.
With the surgery lasting less than three hours, cardiothoracic and sarcoma specialists worked alongside the anesthesiology team to fit the implant securely, achieving stable respiratory function after the operation.
Remarkably, the patient could stand and communicate within a day and was discharged within five days, an impressive recovery facilitated by advanced 3D printing and targeted pain management techniques. After three weeks, a routine check-up confirmed that the implant remained stable, with the patient’s respiratory function fully restored. Currently, she is able to walk a mile daily without difficulty.
Vinmec’s success is the latest in the long list of advanced surgical innovations, marking an important step forward for the region. Looking ahead, the institution aims to explore additional applications of 3D printing, including maxillofacial reconstruction, soft tissue regeneration, and vascular stent placements.
Breakthrough chest wall surgeries
Chest wall reconstructions using 3D printed implants have seen growing success globally, with notable cases demonstrating their life-saving potential.
One notable example includes Manipal Hospitals in India successfully performing a life-saving surgery on a 50-year-old Bangladeshi cancer patient using a custom 3D printed titanium implant to reconstruct his sternum and ribs.
This complex procedure removed a large tumor that had destroyed critical bone structures, enabling the patient to breathe independently, without lifelong medical ventilation. Designed through precise CT imaging and printed with advanced honeycomb technology, the lightweight implant ensured reduced implant rejection and faster recovery
Back in 2018, a 3D printed titanium rib implant saved the life of 71-year-old Peter Maggs, a cancer patient at Morriston Hospital in Wales. Due to the extensive tumor affecting his chest wall, surgeons removed part of Mr. Maggs’ breastbone and three ribs, which risked destabilizing his chest.
Morriston’s biomedical technician Heather Goodrum and maxillofacial manager Peter Llewelyn Evans designed the implant using CT scan data, which was 3D printed by Renishaw for a precise fit. Following surgery, Mr. Maggs recovered well, and his successful outcome was said to be a model for future cases, advancing 3D printed medical implants.
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Featured image shows Vietnam’s Vinmec hospital successfully reconstructed the patient’s chest using a 3D printed titanium implant. Photo via IBT UK.
