Sunday, May 18, 2014

Hip and Stem Cell Surgery


Summary

Doctors and scientists in Southampton have completed their first hip surgery with a 3D printed-implant and bone stem cell graft. The 3D printed hip was made from titanium. It was designed to specially fit the specification of the patients by computer technology. The titanium hip will act as the socket for the femur to enter in. Behind the implants, doctors have put a graft containing bone stem cells. The graft is also inserted with the patients original bone marrow cells to encourage bone regeneration around the implant. This surgery is a huge game changer because it makes the titanium hip more durable then before. Also since it is made to fit the patient perfectly, it reduces the chances to have another surgery.

Connection

This article is relevant to our curriculum because it talks about the skeletal system. In class, we talked about the different kinds of joints in the human body. In the article it talks about the ball and socket joint between the hip and femur. Another connection is that the article talks about bone marrow. We talked about the importance of bone marrow and in the article, they put some bone marrow in the graft because it is so important in the skeletal system. The last connection is the homeostatic imbalance. Since the hip needed surgery, it wasn't functioning as well it was supposed to. The hip wasn't supporting the body as well as it should have. Now, since the hip is made up of titanium, it can support the body because it is now very strong.

Date Published: May 16 2014
Author: University of Southampton
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140516203334.htm

3 comments:

  1. How does the graft promote bone growth? Are there any specific compounds or chemicals that stimulate osteocytes?

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  2. Why did they chose to make the hip bone out of titanium?

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  3. Do you know if having a titanium hip bone will have any side effects against the human body? In other words, organ transplants always need medications and so would this titanium hip need any special treatment with it?

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