Plenty has already been said about the wonders of the 3D printer. 3D printing has undeniably impacted and changed how many industries work but what many see as an amazing 21st century technology is actually a life-changing if not a life-saving tool for some individuals.
Earlier in February, a cardiothoracic surgeon in Kentucky successfully conducted a heart surgery on a fourteen-month old child with improved precision and less exploratory incisions with the help of a 3d-printed heart. Now, another individual becomes a living testament of what 3d printing technology can do.
Jon Fenton was on a holiday in Barcelona with his fiancée Rachel West last June when he accidentally fell from a fifth floor balcony head first to a concrete garage roof. The 27-year old B&Q employee broke every bone in his face and all of his limbs but he was still fortunate enough not to die and his brain was spared from serious injury.
A month after the accident, Jon was flown back to the U.K. to undergo a pioneering reconstructive surgery. To restore his appearance, the doctors at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham made a 3D-printed model of his damaged skull.
"We make the model and that gives us the exact view of the injury that we have," explained Dilip Srinivasan, surgeon at the Queens Medical Centre. "From there we can plan things and get ready to operate."
The doctors had to break Jon's facial bones that have already been healed so they can be reset into the correct position. They also had to refer to Jon's pictures taken before the accident during the 14-hour surgery so they can better rebuild his features.
"It's complex but it's about planning well. We have to break it into small pieces and take a bit at a time. This is not an everyday thing," said Srinivasan.
Still the operation was successful as Jon finally went home this week albeit he still needs to undergo physiotherapy every week.
"The surgeons have literally given me my life back. The work the staff here do is incredible," Jon said. "'I will keep working with the doctors and I will make it back to my best. I am so grateful. I know now to take life every day and enjoy it."
