South African Surgeon Performs World’s First Middle-Ear Transplant Using 3D-Printed Bones
Professor Mashudu Tshifularo, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, made medical history on March 13, 2019, by leading the world’s first successful middle-ear transplant using 3D-printed bones.
The patient was a 35-year-old man whose middle-ear ossicles—the tiny bones responsible for transmitting sound vibrations—had been s... see more
South African Surgeon Performs World’s First Middle-Ear Transplant Using 3D-Printed Bones
Professor Mashudu Tshifularo, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, made medical history on March 13, 2019, by leading the world’s first successful middle-ear transplant using 3D-printed bones.
The patient was a 35-year-old man whose middle-ear ossicles—the tiny bones responsible for transmitting sound vibrations—had been severely damaged in a car accident. Traditional treatments for such conductive hearing loss often involve partial reconstruction or hearing aids, with limited success in restoring natural hearing.
Tshifularo’s team used advanced 3D printing to create custom titanium replacements for the malleus, incus, and stapes, perfectly matching the patient’s anatomy. The implants were surgically placed in a procedure that replaced the entire middle-ear ossicular chain. Within weeks, the patient regained significant hearing in the affected ear, with audiometric tests showing marked improvement.
This innovative approach greatly reduces surgical risks by ensuring precise fit and biocompatibility, while also improving long-term outcomes. The procedure demonstrates the immense potential of 3D printing in personalized medicine, offering new hope for millions affected by ear disorders, trauma, or congenital conditions that impair hearing.
Professor Tshifularo continues to refine the technique, with ongoing efforts to make it more widely accessible and applicable to a broader range of patients.
Reference
University of Pretoria / Steve Biko Academic Hospital (2019) World-first middle-ear transplant performed using 3D-printed bones. up.ac.za
BBC News (2019) South African surgeons perform world’s first middle-ear transplant
The Guardian (2019) Surgeons perform world’s first middle-ear transplant using 3D-printed bones
Nature (2019) 3D-printed middle-ear implants restore hearing in landmark surgery
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