Scientists in China have created and grown new ears for children born with microtia, a defect that leaves the outer ear unformed or absent, using 3D printing. In the study, the team took cartilage samples from 3D children, aged two and a half years , and used PCL scans and 3D printing to create a scaffold on to which they grew new tissue from the samples. “Nevertheless, further efforts remain necessary to eventually translate this prototype work into routine clinical practices.” The study was highly successful in five of the patients. The team said the procedure still had limitations and was expensive, but believed their work could become a routine procedure eventually.
Scientists in China have created and grown new ears for children born with microtia, a defect that leaves the outer ear unformed or absent, using 3D printing. In the study, the team took cartilage samples from 3D children, aged two and a half years , and used PCL scans and 3D printing to create a scaffold on to which they grew new tissue from the samples. The study was highly successful in five of the patients. The team said the procedure still had limitations and was expensive, but believed their work could become a routine procedure eventually.