2016 | KK Women's and Children's Hospital

Use of three-dimensional (3D) printed models to enhance the planning of clinical management.

The Cardiac Centre (consisting of the Cardiology Service and Cardiothoracic Surgery Service) at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has adopted the use of three-dimensional (3D) printed heart models to enhance the planning of clinical management leading to improved outcomes for complex congenital heart conditions. Eight of these models, each depicting a different congenital heart disease in actual patients, provide intricate views into tiny hearts to aid cardiothoracic surgeons in their pre-planning of complex surgeries

By leveraging on 3D printing technology, KKH is also able to offer intervention and reconstruction options for a wide spectrum of complex and rare lower limb discrepancies and deformities in children. Anatomically accurate 3D-printed limb models are created based on patient's actual limb, allowing patients and caregivers to gain a better visualisation and understanding of the limb pathology. The patient's 3D-printed limb model is also utilised in the assessment, planning, surgical simulation, family counselling and eventual surgical intervention for the patient.