Israeli surgeons use customized 3D implant to replace sternum, ribs in patient with rare cancer

Surgeons at Clalit-Beilinson Hospital removed a patient's sternum and part of her ribs, then reconstructed her chest with a custom 3D-printed implant, a first in Israel. The patient, a woman in her twenties, had a rare BRAF-altered mesenchymal tumor. The implant, made of PEKK, was chosen for its strength and flexibility. The surgery took about two hours, and the patient has been discharged and is recovering at home.

Surgeons at Clalit-Beilinson Hospital in Israel successfully removed a patient's sternum and part of her ribs before reconstructing her chest with a custom 3D-printed implant, marking the first time an entire 3D-printed chest cage had been implanted to reconstruct the chest wall in Israel. The patient, a woman in her twenties identified as Hadas, underwent the surgery after doctors discovered a tumor eroding her sternum. Initially appearing benign, extensive testing revealed it to be an exceptionally rare type of sarcoma, a BRAF-altered mesenchymal tumor, with only about 20 cases reported worldwide. To remove the tumor, surgeons had to remove not just the sternum but also portions of the attached ribs. The surgical team rejected traditional materials like synthetic mesh, titanium plates, or bone cement, instead using a fully customized 3D-printed implant made of PEKK, a high-performance carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, chosen for its strength and flexibility. The surgery took about two hours and was performed through a discreet incision beneath the breasts to minimize scarring. Hadas has since been discharged and is recovering well at home. Dr. Yury Peysakhovich, Head of Thoracic Surgery, noted that rare cases require creative solutions, and the combination of advanced 3D-printing technology and collaboration between specialties offered a solution unavailable just a few years ago.