“Two children with deformities have received artificial limb
printed (manufactured) at “ Hastha” Department of Orthopaedics, Kasturba
Hospital, Manipal. The revolutionary 3D printing facility for artificial
limb manufacturing at “Hastha” was inaugurated by Dr. H. Vinod Bhat,
Vice Chancellor, MAHE, Manipal recently.
“Hastha”the Centre for Congenital Hand Differences has been established
under Manipal Academy of Higher Education through the unit of Hand and
Microsurgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Kasturba Medical College and
Hospital, Manipal. The Chief Co-ordinator for this Centre is Dr. Anil K.
Bhat, Prof and Head, Department of Orthopaedics, Manipal.
According to Dr Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent, Kastuba Hospital
said 3D printable prosthetics are the new revolution in manufacturing
artificial limbs, especially for children in order to develop prosthesis
that is innovative, customizable and cheap. It can be replaced often
without incurring much cost. The 3D printing (manufacturing) prosthesis
can be task specific and a child can have many such prosthesis for each
task like activities of daily living, for playing or for school work.
The prosthesis are customizable to any level of amputation whether above
elbow, below elbow or even with the absence or shortening of fingers.
The prosthesis takes few hours to print in the machine, is presently
mechanical in nature, light weight, comes with many colour and can be
easily altered in shape and size.
These prostheses will be printed through “Hastha”, the Centre for
Congenital Hand Differences at Artificial Limb Centre, Kasturba
Hospital, Manipal and The parents of children requiring such prosthesis
can contact the Orthopaedic out-patient department in Kasturba Hospital,
Manipal.”