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Yale Begins 3D Orthopaedic Surgical Procedures That Are Fully In-house
Lisa Lattanza, MD, Chair and Ensign Professor of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, has performed the first fully in-house 3D surgical case at Yale. The first in-house, custom, personalized 3D surgical procedure repaired a distal radius malunion, which is caused when a broken forearm heals incorrectly, resulting in misaligned or deformed bones. Lattanza worked alongside a Yale team to develop a 3D surgical plan for the patient, 3D printed personalized surgical guides, and 3D printed anatomically precise models of the bone structure. By using advanced imaging software with 3D modeling and printing, Lattanza was able to identify the best outcomes possible through a non-standardized surgical approach without having to make an incision. This latest endeavor represents the ever-converging synergy between orthopaedics and engineering, and also is creating new opportunities in personalized medicine.