Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

A 3-D Tail Explant Culture to Study Vertebrate Segmentation in Zebrafish
Published on: June 30, 2021
Vertebral Reconstruction with Customized 3-Dimensional-Printed Spine Implant Replacing Large Vertebral Defect with
Kyu Seon Chung1, Dong Ah Shin1, Keung Nyun Kim1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Spine and Spinal Cord Institute, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Destruction of the spine is a huge complication of infectious spondylitis and surgical intervention is required. However, vertebral defect is a major problem after surgical intervention and numerous methods have been researched to solve this problem. There are known methods that use variously designed, patient-customized 3-dimensional (3D)-printed implants in various medical fields. The use of 3D-printed implants has also been attempted in treating defects in the spine. We present a case of failure of expandable titanium cage fusion after infection, treated using a 3D-printed implant.
Case Description:
The patient had undergone reconstruction surgery with expandable titanium cage due to infectious spondylitis and needed reoperation owing to recurrence of infections and failure of bone fusion. The problem we faced in this operation was a large vertebral defect, for which we used a 3D-printed implant. After 3 years of follow-up, the implant and bone fusion were intact and infection or mechanical complications were not seen.
Conclusions:
A 3D-printed implant could be an acceptable and alternative treatment option for replacing a large vertebral defect.
Related Concept Videos
Muscles of the Vertebral Column
Superficial Layer:
The superficial layer consists primarily of the splenius muscles, which include the splenius capitis and splenius cervicis. These muscles are mainly responsible for the head and cervical spine movements, including extension, rotation, and lateral bending. The splenius capitis...
Articulations of the Vertebral Column
Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form...
ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH3
Piaget's Stage 3 of Cognitive Development
Conservation and Constancy of Quantity
A significant cognitive milestone in the...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists

