Tabuk surgeons reconstruct jaw with 3D printing

A Saudi Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery team working at King Fahd Specialist Hospital KFSH in Tabuk (northwestern Saudi Arabia) succeeded in reconstructing the jaw of a 25-year-old patient after losing it for a tumor.

The medical team treating the case explained that the patient was suffering from pain and swelling in the jaw and face, and after conducting necessary medical examinations and x-rays, it was found that he had a benign tumor in the lower jaw, and a medical procedure was required to remove bones of the right lower jaw.

A 3D design of the jaw was made, and the exact location of the bone pieces was determined using 3D imaging technology and virtual simulation.

Successful surgery removed the right lower jaw bones while preserving the sensory nerve that nourishes the jaw and lip, and the jaw bones were replaced with a durable metal chip replacing the missing organ. The patient was discharged from the hospital and his health condition is good.