Surgeons at Madrid's Gregorio Marañón Hospital have reconstructed the chest of Mario, a 20-year-old young man with Poland syndrome. This congenital malformation affects the pectoral muscle and the hand. The pioneering procedure of its kind used a custom-made titanium prosthesis manufactured with 3D printing, adapted to his anatomy to restore thoracic symmetry.
Custom 3D printing: titanium that adapts to the body 🦾
The prosthesis was designed from a three-dimensional scan of Mario's thorax. Manufactured in titanium by laser sintering, it replicates the structure of the missing pectoral muscle. Surgical planning included virtual simulations to ensure an exact fit. Fixation was performed with screws in the sternum and ribs, avoiding complications. Recovery was quick and the result, stable.
Goodbye to the complex: Mario now flaunts a titanium pectoral 😎
Mario had spent years avoiding the beach and tight t-shirts. Now, with his new metallic pectoral, he could pass for a stylish robot. Sure, he'll have to be careful going through airport security arches. But hey, if the titanium holds up, at least he won't have to worry about push-ups. Science, sometimes, is also a matter of aesthetics.