A computer model was then created to visualize the bone and growth plate. Three - dimensional printing has helped cut surgery time and costs at Rady Children 's Hospital in San Diego . A team from the hospital and the University of California , San Diego used a 3D printer to create surgical training models for treatment of the most common hip problem occurring in children , slipped capital femoral epiphysis . Practice on the project cost about $ 2,700 per patient and reduced surgery costs by nearly 50 % , according to a study published in the Journal of Children 's Orthopaedics .
Three - dimensional printing has helped cut surgery time and costs at Rady Children 's Hospital in San Diego . A team from the hospital and the University of California , San Diego used a 3D printer to create surgical training models for treatment of the most common hip problem occurring in children , slipped capital femoral epiphysis . Practice on the project cost about $ 2,700 per patient and reduced surgery costs by nearly 50 % , according to a study published in the Journal of Children 's Orthopaedics .