3D-printed planning enables complex elbow reconstruction in Vietnam

The use of additive manufacturing is gaining increasing importance in Vietnam’s healthcare system, as demonstrated by a recent case from the Vinmec Healthcare System . There, physicians succeeded in implanting a rarely used total elbow megaprosthesis in a patient with a severe elbow deformity that had persisted for decades. The procedure was based, among other things, on detailed 3D models derived from high-resolution CT data.

The patient had been suffering for 27 years from the consequences of a complex injury to the left arm. Due to chronic inflammation and progressive bone loss, the elbow joint had become completely stiff, and several centimeters of the distal humerus were missing. Conventional endoprostheses were not an option because of the pronounced loss of substance.

“The patient has waited for 27 years. Another failure would have had a severe psychological impact. That is why we were determined to create a new opportunity to change his life,” Dr. Quyet stated.

The decision was made in favor of an elbow megaprosthesis, a procedure that originally comes from tumor orthopedics. To minimize risks, the team virtually reconstructed the patient’s individual anatomy using in-house 3D technology. The three-dimensional models enabled precise planning of the resection, the implant geometry, and the subsequent alignment. This preparation proved crucial during surgery, as no nerve or vascular injuries occurred.

“After nearly 30 years, I finally feel like I have a normal arm again. It moves so naturally as if I never had surgery at all,” the patient shared emotionally.

Just a few days after the procedure, the patient was able to perform initial movements; after two weeks, extension and flexion of the elbow were possible again. The case underscores the growing importance of 3D printing and digital planning in orthopedics, especially for complex reconstructions beyond standardized implants.

Vinmec had previously already used individualized, additively manufactured implants, for example in cases of extensive bone defects or thoracic reconstructions. Such applications show that 3D printing is not only used in prototype manufacturing, but is increasingly playing a key role in patient-specific clinical care.