Israeli Hospital Performs First 3D-Printed Shoulder Reconstruction for Rare Bone Cancer

A 41-year-old woman diagnosed with a rare malignant bone tumor underwent a groundbreaking shoulder reconstruction surgery at Wolfson Medical Center in Israel. The patient, a mother of three from central Israel, was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a rare cancer affecting bone tissue, with an incidence of about two cases per million people in her age group. The tumor caused increasing pain in her arm, leading to the diagnosis.

The multidisciplinary medical team, led by Dr. Ron Betesh, head of the orthopedic oncology service, removed the tumor and reconstructed the shoulder using a custom-made implant produced through 3D printing technology in Germany. This implant was uniquely designed based on the patient’s CT and MRI scans to precisely fit her anatomy, marking the first time such technology has been used in Israel for this type of case. The personalized implant aimed to preserve shoulder function while ensuring complete tumor removal, a significant challenge in such surgeries.

The complex operation was jointly conducted by the orthopedic oncology unit and the sports injuries unit at Wolfson Medical Center, with Dr. Betesh, Dr. Oz Hadar, and Dr. Shay Barness performing the procedure. The surgery was successful, and the patient was discharged home. Dr. Betesh emphasized that the goal was to give the young patient the best chance to regain full function after treatment.