Israeli surgeons use customized 3D implant to replace sternum, ribs in rare cancer patient

Surgeons at Clalit-Beilinson Hospital in Israel successfully performed a rare operation on a woman in her twenties, Hadas, to remove a BRAF-altered mesenchymal tumor, a sarcoma with only about 20 reported cases worldwide. The procedure, conducted on Tuesday, involved removing her sternum and parts of her ribs, then reconstructing her chest with a custom 3D-printed implant, marking the first time an entire 3D-printed chest cage was implanted in Israel. The surgical team opted for a PEKK (polyether ketone ketone) implant, a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, due to its strength and flexibility, which mimics natural bone and allows tissue integration. Dr. Yury Peysakhovich, Head of Thoracic Surgery, noted the challenge of replacing what "is essentially the anchor of the entire chest," emphasizing that precise reconstruction is crucial for respiratory mechanics and organ protection. Hadas has been discharged and is recovering well. Peysakhovich stated, "Rare cases require creative solutions."