For the first time in Israel: a 41-year-old's shoulder reconstructed using 3D printing

An innovative surgery performed at the Wolfson Medical Center may mark a breakthrough in the treatment of rare bone tumors: a multidisciplinary team removed a malignant tumor from the arm of a 41-year-old patient and reconstructed her shoulder using a 3D-printed implant specifically tailored to her body structure. According to the hospital, this is the first time in Israel that this technology has been used in such a case.

S., a mother of three from the central region, was diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma — a rare cancerous tumor that develops in the bone. According to the medical center, the incidence of the disease at her age is extremely rare, standing at about two cases per million people.

The dull pain that led to the diagnosis

The case began with a dull pain in S.'s arm, which intensified over time. After being diagnosed, she chose to undergo treatment and the complex surgery at Wolfson, under the guidance of Dr. Ron Batash, director of the Orthopedic Oncology Service at the hospital.

"The clinical challenge was twofold: removing the malignant tumor while preserving shoulder function. Until now, the standard in these surgeries was the use of 'off-the-shelf' implants with fixed dimensions," explains Dr. Batash.

In the current case, the medical team decided to choose a different solution: the production of a custom implant using 3D printing in Germany, designed to fit the patient's anatomy precisely.

The implant was designed based on CT and MRI scans

The design of the implant was based on S.'s CT and MRI scans and was done in ongoing collaboration between the medical team at Wolfson and the development team abroad. After a series of drafts and adjustments, an implant was manufactured that reconstructs the unique anatomical structure of her shoulder. The custom fit was intended to allow the team to remove the malignant tumor while simultaneously preserving the function of the shoulder and arm as much as possible — a particularly significant challenge in this type of surgery.

Two units joined forces for the complex surgery

The surgery was led jointly by the Orthopedic Oncology Unit and the Sports Injuries Unit at the Wolfson Medical Center. The surgical team included Dr. Ron Batash, director of the Orthopedic Oncology Service; Dr. Oz Hadar, director of the Sports Injuries Unit; and Dr. Shai Barnes, a senior physician in the Sports Injuries Unit. The surgery ended successfully and S. was discharged to her home.

"Our goal was to give the young patient the best chance to return to full function," concludes Dr. Batash.