Luding County People's Hospital performed the first 3D-printed custom knee revision surgery in Ganzi Prefecture, successfully treating a complex case with severe bone defects using a remotely designed prosthesis, funded by a Zhejiang aid project.
On November 10, 2025, Antarctic Bear learned that, with the support of the Zhejiang Aid Team stationed in the Ganzi Work Team's Luding Unit, the People's Hospital of Luding County successfully performed a "revision surgery with a 3D-printed customized knee joint prosthesis" on a patient suffering from severe knee joint damage after two failed previous surgeries. This procedure marks the first of its kind in Ganzi Prefecture and signifies a major breakthrough for the People's Hospital of Luding County in the field of complex joint surgery.
The patient had endured knee pain for five years. After undergoing knee replacement surgery in Chengdu three years ago, an infection occurred. Following a second surgery, the condition continued to worsen, leading to complications such as a fractured bone cement spacer, extensive bone defects in the femur and tibia, and complete loss of function in the medial collateral ligament. Faced with this challenging case, Dr. Yan Feng's team decided to adopt a "3D-printed customized prosthesis" solution, initiating a cross-regional "integration of medicine and engineering" collaborative model.
Through precise CT scanning and data transmission, a collaborative team in Beijing conducted remote consultations with the medical team in Luding to jointly design a customized prosthesis that integrated both the joint replacement and ligament attachment functions. After more than two months of meticulous preparation, the specially made prosthesis underwent strict sterilization and was transported to Luding. During the surgery, the customized prosthesis achieved a perfect fit with the patient's bone defects, successfully restoring knee joint stability.
The successful implementation of this surgery was made possible by the "New Steps, Blooming Gesang Flowers" Hip and Knee Care Project, promoted by the Zhejiang Aid Team's Luding Unit. This project raised 500,000 yuan in special assistance funds, significantly alleviating the financial burden for impoverished patients with joint diseases. To date, the project has successfully performed surgeries on over 80 patients at the county hospital, allowing local communities to access high-quality medical services without leaving their hometowns.
