SEOUL: Scientists have developed a special glue gun that can 3D print a bone-like substance for fracture repair during surgery.
According to details, the researchers have modified a standard glue gun to 3D print a bone-like material directly onto fractures, paving the way for its use in operating rooms.
The researchers claimed that the device, which has so far been tested in rabbits, would be particularly useful for fixing irregularly shaped fractures during surgery.
While talking to Live Science, the study co-author, Jung Seung Lee, a biomedical engineer at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea, said that there are virtually no previous examples of applying the technology directly as a bone substitute, and this makes the approach unique and sets it apart from conventional methods.
Typically, large fractures or other defects in bones require bone grafting and the use of a metal fastener, such as a pin or plate, to support the broken bone as it heals. But because the shape of these implants is not specific to a given patient’s fracture, this can result in poor alignment and compromised stability of the bone.
Previous studies have shown that 3D printing bespoke bone grafts for individual patients can be done, but these required considerable time and effort to make, preventing them from being used on the fly during surgery.
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In a study published Friday (Sept. 5) in the journal Device, Lee and colleagues detailed their new method of 3D printing a bone substitute directly onto a fracture using a glue gun. In the research, they successfully tested the technology on rabbits with leg fractures.
