Successful treatment of osteoarthritis using 3D printing technology at King Fahad University Hospital in Al-Khobar

A medical team at King Fahd University Hospital in Al-Khobar succeeded in treating a complex case of chronic bacterial and fungal bone infection (Osteomyelitis) using 3D printing technology to design a customized therapeutic joint loaded with antibiotics, in a step that reflects the rapid development in employing modern engineering technologies to serve health care in the Kingdom.
Consultant in orthopedic surgery, fractures, complex accidents, pelvic bone reconstruction, and sports medicine, Dr. Suleiman Muhammad Al-Shammari, explained that the patient was suffering from chronic and severe osteoarthritis that caused bone erosion, which required the use of strong antibiotics for long periods to control bacterial and fungal infections, which resulted in health complications that affected kidney function and reached the stage of kidney failure.
He stated that the treatment plan relied on an integrated approach that combines advanced surgery and modern engineering techniques, where a special therapeutic joint was designed and manufactured using 3D printing technology, based on precise anatomical measurements of the corresponding healthy limb in order to achieve the highest degrees of functional and anatomical compatibility.
He pointed out that this technology allows antibiotics to be delivered directly to the site of the injury, while preserving the length of the limb and the function of the joint, which contributes to increasing the chances of recovery and reducing complications associated with traditional treatment.
Al-Shammari stressed that careful follow-up of the case during the treatment stages resulted – thanks to God – in the complete elimination of bacterial and fungal bone infections, the improvement and stability of kidney functions, and the patient’s recovery and return to his normal life.
This operation was conducted at King Fahd University Hospital in Al-Khobar, affiliated with the Academic Medical City at Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University, in a model that reflects the integration between medical and engineering specialties and the use of modern technologies to provide advanced therapeutic solutions for complex cases.