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The Future of Joint Implants: 3D Printing

By April 22, 2016January 9th, 2019Medical Malpractice, Product Liability

The thought of undergoing surgery can invoke a flood of emotions – from fear to denial to anxiety. What if there were a way to make surgery a lot easier, a lot faster and a lot less painful? This article explores how an old concept is reinventing joint implant surgery.

Joint Implant Surgery

The human body is like a machine: If one part doesn’t work, the other parts feel the pain. No one knows this better than someone living with a deteriorating knee or hip condition. Even years of surgery and treatment are not enough to permanently alleviate the pain, discomfort and difficulty that they have when standing or walking.

The logical solution, then, is to replace the deteriorating joint with a new one. But this can come with its own complications. Most joint implants are “off-the-shelf” and come in a limited array of sizes. But, if an implant is just three millimeters too big, this can mean much pain after the operation.

3D Printing and Joint Implants

People come in all different sizes, and so should joint replacements. Luckily, for those in need of joint replacement surgery, there is a new type of implant available – one in which 3D printers are used to print out components and tools that surgeons then use to attach the implant more precisely.

This is cutting-edge technology that requires fewer cuts and produces a joint implant that is more precise and natural, and feels like the real thing.

A growing number of doctors around the country now perform joint implants using 3D printers. The hope is that, by sizing the joint implant precisely, the patient will have less pain and a more natural-feeling joint replacement. 3D printing is the future and, in the medical world, the future is now.

Defective Medical Devices Attorneys in St. Louis, MO

Many Americans seek joint replacement surgery to regain the mobility and quality of life that they once enjoyed. Whether due to medical negligence or a defect in the implants’ manufacturing or design, these procedures don’t always yield the results expected.

If you or a loved one has experienced complications with a joint implant, contact Carey, Danis & Lowe. We assist patients who have received medical devices like these and need help recovering compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and the cost of revision surgery needed to address the defective device.

If you are experiencing complications due to a defective joint implant, be advised that the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit is limited by legal statutes. Therefore, it is vital that you speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

If you need to speak to an experienced lawyer about a defective medical device in Missouri, contact the attorneys at Carey, Danis & Lowe. We can provide you with professional advice regarding the personal injury concern. Call us today at 877-678-3400 to schedule an appointment or fill out one of our contact forms.