The Effectiveness in the Treatment of Long Bone Defect in Adults Using 3D-printed Titanium Alloy Implant

The participant with long bone defect or bone tumor of the extremity is referred to the Radiology Department to have a full CT-scan of both limbs to facilitate the later reconstruction. With the contralateral limb CT-scan data, the implant is designed with appropriate geometry and structures through online meetings with the scientists of CSIRO, Australia. Through this discussion, the supporting guides for the precise osteotomy will also be designed and would be 3D-printed later by 3 Dimensional Tech Vision Limited Company (Vietnam) with Poly Lactic Acid material. The 3D-printed metal parts will be manufactured using Titanium - 6 Aluminum - 4 Vanadium ELI (Extra Low Interstitial) material with Electron Beam Melting technology in CSIRO (Australia). Subsequently, the 3D-printed part will undergo mechanical tests using the Instron 5500R system (Australia) to validate its required mechanical properties. If this metal part cannot fulfill the mechanical requirements, the problematic geometry will be revised and re-designed. Another prototype will be 3D-printed with the same protocol and be tested until it qualified for the mechanical requirement. When the 3D-printed model passes the mechanical test, another 3D-printed metal part with a similar design will be manufactured before transferring to 3-Dimensional Tech Vision Limited Company (Vietnam) for post-processing, surface finishing, sterilising, packaging, labeling. Eventually, the implant will be sent to Cho Ray hospital. The amount of intraoperative blood loss and operative time will be recorded.