As the saying goes, “One step at a time,” it is evident that the ankle joint bears the entire weight of the body during human movement. Once there is an issue with the ankle joint, it can lead to excruciating pain when walking, even causing patients to find it difficult to move at all!
Recently, the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University utilized 3D printing technology to independently complete the first personalized 3D printed total talus prosthesis and 3D printed osteotomy template-assisted artificial ankle joint replacement surgery in southern Sichuan, relieving a female patient in her forties from over 20 years of left ankle pain and gait disturbance.
Personalized 3D Printed Total Talus Prosthesis
Solving the Dilemma for Patients Traveling Thousands of Miles for Treatment!
The patient came from Liaoning Province and had a history of ankle joint pain for over 20 years. Initially, the pain was in the left ankle, which later progressed to bilateral ankle pain, especially noticeable when walking, with the left ankle pain being more severe. Consultations at several local hospitals indicated bilateral ankle arthritis and bilateral talus necrosis.
Due to the long duration of the patient’s condition and the severity of the talus necrosis, conventional ankle prosthetics were inadequate for complete ankle joint replacement and reconstruction. Following a referral from local doctors, the patient contacted Professor Li Zhong, head of the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery at Southwest Medical University, where the ankle team had successfully performed total ankle replacements and related surgeries. Thus, the patient traveled thousands of miles to seek treatment.
After hospitalization, the patient underwent weight-bearing X-rays, CT 3D reconstruction, and MRI scans, all indicating severe ankle arthritis, particularly with significant pain in the left ankle. Considering the patient’s economic situation and physical tolerance, it was decided, with the patient’s consent, to proceed with the left ankle replacement surgery first.
The ankle team conducted data analysis and 3D printing modeling and prosthesis design immediately after obtaining the patient’s imaging data, ultimately designing a suitable prosthesis and osteotomy guide.
Precise Preoperative Planning and an Excellent Joint Replacement Team
Ensure the Smooth Progress of the Surgery!
The entire surgical process was guided by Professor Li Zhong, with chief surgeon Xu Yangbo and Dr. Wei Daiqing participating in the completion. The osteotomy guide was used for positioning and cutting, with the prosthesis successfully placed in one attempt. The surgical process was precise and meticulous, taking just over one hour, successfully completing the operation, which is more than half the time required for traditional ankle replacement surgeries.
The patient was discharged smoothly one week post-surgery, and is currently recovering well. The long-standing left ankle pain has been completely eliminated, and her overall spirit has greatly improved. The lower limb’s functional activity is gradually recovering, and she is expected to resume normal walking and activities in 2-3 months.
Post-operative Photos
Who Can Undergo This Surgery?
Is One Replacement Enough for a Lifetime?
Patients with end-stage primary ankle osteoarthritis, end-stage traumatic ankle osteoarthritis, and those who have previously undergone ankle fusion but wish to restore ankle mobility can undergo ankle joint replacement surgery. Generally, the joint prosthesis can be used for about 15-20 years. Patients wishing to undergo ankle joint replacement must seek evaluation and treatment from specialized foot and ankle surgeons at accredited medical institutions.
Doctor Introduction>>
Li Zhong
Professor, Doctor of Medicine, Master’s/Doctoral Supervisor, Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Secretary of the Seventeenth Party Branch
Engaged in clinical, teaching, and research work for nearly 30 years, mainly focusing on clinical and basic research in the repair and reconstruction of sports injuries and joint injuries, with rich clinical experience. He has frequently exchanged and learned at internationally renowned hospitals, mastering clinical operation skills in his field and being familiar with new technological advancements in the field, with high proficiency in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of hip, knee, and shoulder joint replacements; hip and knee preservation treatments; joint ligament injuries; meniscus injuries; recurrent dislocations of the patella and shoulder joints; joint pain, activity disorders, fractures, and minimally invasive treatment of sports injuries.
XU Yangbo
Specialist Doctor in the Foot and Ankle Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery
Monday morning at Zhongshan Campus: Foot and Ankle Specialty Clinic
Specializes in the treatment of foot and ankle trauma, sports injuries, and various deformities
National Youth Committee Member of the Foot and Ankle Surgery Group, Chinese Medical Association
Member of the Foot and Ankle Surgery Group, Orthopedic Physician Branch, Chinese Medical Association
Member of the Foot and Ankle Surgery Group, China Medical Promotion Association
Executive Member of the Foot and Ankle Medicine Committee, China Research Hospital Association
Member of the Foot and Ankle Surgery Society, SICOT China
Member of the Foot and Ankle Expert Committee, Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine
Member of the Foot and Ankle Surgery Group, Sports Medicine Branch, Chinese Medical Association
Member of the Foot and Ankle Medicine Committee, China Research Hospital Association
Editorial Board Member of the “Electronic Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery”
Editorial Board Member of “Contemporary Medicine”
Deputy Leader of the Foot and Ankle Surgery Group, Sichuan Medical Association
Wei Daiqing
Doctor, Attending Physician, Communist Party Member
Thursday afternoon at Zhongshan Campus: Foot and Ankle Specialty Clinic
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of various types of injuries, pain, and functional abnormalities of the limbs, joints, and soft tissues, especially in the repair and reconstruction of foot and ankle trauma, minimally invasive arthroscopic repair of sports injuries, correction of foot and ankle deformities, and chronic pain in the foot and ankle.
Has hosted six projects at various levels from the Provincial Department of Education and Health Commission, participated in one National Natural Science Foundation project, and published over ten papers in domestic and international journals. In 2017, he was awarded the “Advanced Individual in Medical Ethics and Conduct” at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, and in 2019, he was recognized as an “Outstanding Individual of the Year” at the same institution.
Youth Committee Member of the Foot and Ankle Surgery Group, Orthopedic Physician Branch, Chinese Medical Association
Youth Committee Member of the Foot and Ankle Specialty Committee, Chinese Medical Association of Orthopedic Physicians
Youth Committee Member of the Foot and Ankle Specialty Group, Sports Medicine Physician Branch, Chinese Medical Association
Youth Committee Member of the Diabetes Foot Alliance
Member of the Southwest Group, Foot and Ankle Surgery Group, Chinese Medical Promotion Association
Youth Editorial Board Member of the “Journal of Southwest Medical University”
Deng Yong
Attending Physician, Master of Medicine
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle trauma (including ankle fractures, pilon fractures, calcaneus, metatarsal fractures, and dislocations), foot deformities (including cavus foot, flatfoot, hallux valgus, clubfoot, polydactyly, etc.), Achilles tendon ruptures, ankle and heel pain, chronic foot infections, and diabetes foot.
Has participated in multiple academic conferences, published several professional academic papers, and has been involved in clinical undergraduate teaching, recognized twice as an advanced individual in medical ethics and conduct at the hospital.
Youth Working Committee Member of the Foot and Ankle Specialty Committee, Orthopedic Physician Branch, Chinese Medical Association
Foot and Ankle Subspecialty Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery>>
The Foot and Ankle Subspecialty Group of the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, with experts including XU Yangbo, Wei Daiqing, and Deng Yong, has developed rapidly since its establishment in 2009. Continuous improvement in discipline and team construction, enhancement of diagnostic and treatment techniques, and gradual formation of standardized, refined, personalized, and minimally invasive clinical characteristics. It has now developed into a treatment center for foot and ankle diseases in southern Sichuan, the training center for foot and ankle surgeons in Southwest China, with an annual surgical volume exceeding 800 cases and over 20 academic papers published. It was the first in southern Sichuan to perform artificial ankle joint replacement surgery, total talus artificial ankle joint replacement, metatarsophalangeal joint replacement surgery, personalized correction surgery for hallux valgus, and osteotomy correction for severe foot and ankle deformities, and has successfully applied arthroscopic techniques for the minimally invasive treatment of various foot and ankle trauma and musculoskeletal diseases, achieving satisfactory treatment outcomes.
Specialized treatments include:
Text/Images Xu Yangbo
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