A 71-year-old man who had already survived a bout with prostate cancer thought he was going to lose his foot when doctors informed him about a new cancer that had developed in his heel.
Doctors at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne informed Lee Chandler that their only course of action involved surgery, and that operation involved amputating his leg below the knee.
“I was prepared before I went,” said Chandler. “I though if I’ve gotta lose it, I’ve gotta lose it.”
A scan of the cancerous heel area uncovered that there was simply no current or functional prosthetic that could be inserted after the cancerous bone was removed. But, just because something doesn’t yet exist, doesn’t mean it can’t be made. By combining modern medicine and advanced technology, scientists were able to generate a 3D model of a functional prosthetic designed specifically to address the rare form of cancer in Chandler’s heel. They then used the design to print a titanium replica heel.
Professor Peter Choong said all the functions of the heel had to be accounted for when designing the custom piece.
“What we try to do with the new prosthesis is simulate the sorts of functions that his bone would have,” Choong said. “First of all the shape, strength, also parts of it have to be nice and polished where it has to run or articulate, as we say, against different other bones. For example, you have the shin coming down on to it, you have the foot bones in front of it and they provide very complex surfaces that you could not normally match with.”
Chandler underwent the innovative operation in July, and he was discharged from the hospital 12 days later.
“I’ve got no irritation or pain or anything from that. It just fits perfect, I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Chandler said of the printed heel. “I don’t know if I’ll be kicking a football or not but I’ll be getting around.”
Dr. Silverman comments
This is truly a wondrous combination of medical knowledge and technological advancements. Procedures are becoming safer, and patient livelihood is always being improved with new technologies.
I believe we’ll be hearing of similar stories in America in the not so distant future.
Related source: ABC News
