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No two spines are exactly alike, and personalized 3D-printed titanium options are giving Mayo Clinic surgeons a way to more closely match an implant to a patient's individual anatomy.
Instead of traditional implants manufactured in standard sizes, surgeons are using implants designed from a patient's own imaging.
"The benefit of these is they're custom fitted for each particular patient," says Dr. Joshua Bakhsheshian, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon. "This gives us a little bit more control in terms of alignment restoration and also (vertebral) endplate coverage, which leads to better patient outcomes down the line."
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Personalized implants, personalized care
Creating the implant starts with a CT scan. Resulting images are used to build a three-dimensional reconstruction of the patient's spine. From that reconstruction, an implant can be designed to fit the space between the vertebrae where it will be placed.
This personalized fit is part of an evolution in spine surgery toward better tailored treatments.
"Modern-day spine surgery requires a lot of planning beforehand," Dr. Bakhsheshian says. "The operation is mostly done before you even get to the operating room."
For patients undergoing spinal fusion, implants help maintain the space between vertebrae while the bones heal together. Porous titanium also allows bone to grow into and integrate better with the implant.
Better outcomes through customization
Dr. Bakhsheshian says customization can also mean less adjustment to the implant during the operation.
"They're personalized to each patient, which allows me to finish the operation quicker because there's less 'carpentry' that's needed in the operating room," he says.
This level of precision can also benefit patients after surgery.
"Patients tend to recover faster, and they're able to return to their level of activity as desired sooner," Dr. Bakhsheshian says.
A spinal implant may be small, but its role in supporting alignment, stability and healing is important.
"I'm very excited about this technology," Dr. Bakhsheshian says. "Ultimately, it can help provide better outcomes."
