Kuwaiti hospital uses 3D printing for complex hip reconstruction
Ministry of Health ties the Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital case to its effort to keep specialized surgical work inside the country
A surgical team at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital in Kuwait has reconstructed and replaced a patient’s artificial hip joint after planning the procedure on a 3D printed model of the patient’s pelvis, the first case at the hospital to use the technique.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health presented the result as part of its work to bring advanced medical technology and complex-case capability in-country, setting out the case in a press statement. The team was headed by Dr. Hashem Al-Ali, Head of the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital.
The patient, aged 48, had a previous hip failure, complications attributed to metal deposition and substantial loss of pelvic bone. The team took CT scans and printed a model matching the patient’s pelvis, which allowed it to examine the areas of bone loss and bone defect and settle on a surgical approach before operating.
Working from that plan, the surgeons carried out a reconstruction that used bone grafts and a fixation technique intended to stabilize the joint and support bone fusion over the long term. The patient stood and began walking on only the second day after surgery.
The MoH said the case reflects the expansion of Kuwaiti health services in localizing medical technologies and expertise, and in building the capacity of national medical staff to treat complex cases within the country.
