Colombian researchers of EAFIT and CES University have developed a biocompatible skull implant based on tomography for patients with severe head injuries.
This implant is claimed to be far less expensive than those in the US, by about 50% to 60%, reports news.com.au.
Called Smartbone, patients suffering with head injuries can have a portion of the skull replaced.
About 85% of the skull implants are imported from countries such as the US into Colombia.
The implant is designed with the help of software, which provides a three-dimensional reconstruction based on the patient’s tomography, a 3D imaging.
For the last four months, six patients with head injuries have have been implanted with Smartbone in Medellin and according to researchers, the patients have recovered both functionally and aesthetically.
The surgery takes about anywhere between 45 minutes and an hour.
Besides the surgical risks, the time taken under anaesthesia, and the chances of bleeding and infection also get significantly reduced.