Doctors use 3D printer to save cancer sufferer’s foot in world-first procedure

DOCTORS used a 3D printer to help build a Melbourne man a new heel bone and save him from losing his leg to cancer, in a world-first procedure.

Len Chandler,71 has received a revolutionary foot bone transplant. After suffering cancer in his foot Len faced the prospect of having his leg amputated however Prof. Peter Choong at St Vincents instead had a new heel bone made in a 3D printer which he has successfully implanted into Len's foot and saved his leg. Picture: David Caird.

DOCTORS used a 3D printer to help build a Melbourne man a new heel bone and save him from losing his leg to cancer, in a world-first procedure.

Len Chandler, 71, is back on his feet after the Melbourne team used scans of his left heel bone to create a 3D image of his right one.

They then used the 3D version to help construct an exact replica of the bone, the ­calcaneus, where a tumour had taken over.

Patients with advanced cancer in the calcaneus often lose the leg below the knee as it is too difficult to replace the highly complex bone, which must move in tandem with the shin and foot bones.

But the combined efforts of St Vincent’s Hospital surgeon Prof Peter Choong, Melbourne biotech company Anatomics and the CSIRO to build Mr Chandler a new one have placed the city at the forefront of body-part development.

For the full story plus video, go to the Herald Sun

@mcarthurg

[e-mail]

Originally published as Doctors use 3D printer to save cancer sufferer’s foot in world-first procedure