The SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital works on close to 500 3D projects every year to revolutionise complex surgical procedures

Practice makes perfect. That is why the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital has had a 3D Printing and Planning Unit for the last 10 years, which has revolutionised the approach to complex surgical procedures.

Using simulations, prototypes and other advanced technology developed in this unit, hospital staff can study cases in detail and offer more personalised treatment. That is how they managed to reduce the length of more than half of certain surgical procedures, reduce the margin of error and anticipate any potential complications.

The unit—involving 13 staff members with various backgrounds—works closely with 11 surgical specialisms at the hospital. Every year, the unit supports the planning of more than 300 complex surgical procedures using 3D technology, creating more than 150 personalised simulations for teaching and training.

Núria Adell, Head of 3D planning, explains that the unit's activity started with a case of neuroblastoma, a pediatric tumor. ‘To prepare for the operation, staff planned it out in 3D and, using a 3D-print made with this technology, surgeons were able to practice and prepare themselves in a more real way.’ Demand continued to rise after this case and, in 2016, the 3D Printing and Planning Unit was officially created. Thanks to competitive projects, the grants awarded from them and donations, this service has been able grow and invest in cutting-edge technology.

Moreover, this unit at the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital was the first in Catalonia and one of the first in Spain and Europe to obtain the EU MDR 2017/745 license to produce custom-made medical devices, awarded by the Generalitat as per the International Organization for Standardization system, ISO 13485:2016.

Use of 3D in healthcare, research and training

The unit works in three core areas: surgical planning; research and development of new materials for use in 3D printing and custom-made medical devices; and teaching and simulation. In this regard, Adell mentions that ‘we create custom simulations for use in teaching, to practice surgical techniques and procedures, and to simulate real clinical cases before they are tackled in real life.’

Collaboration with the Diagnostic Imaging Department is a crucial aspect in the development of this technology. Marta Gómez, Radiologist and Head of Quality Assurance in the 3D Unit, notes: ‘We plan the imaging side, making sure all images are properly acquired, and then we conduct a thorough medical assessment. Then, alongside our colleagues, we bring these images to life in 3D, either virtually or printed, which is much closer to what the doctor will see.’

One of the areas that has been impacted most is pediatric scoliosis surgery. More than 250 patients undergo this type of surgery every year, many of whom are complex cases. ‘3D guides are like templates, specifically designed for each individual patient. This allows us to perforate the vertebra and fit screws into the exact position that we had planned so as to reduce the risk of a neurological lesion’, explains Alejandro Peiró, Head of the Pediatric Spinal Surgery Unit at the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital. In addition, he notes that operations that used to take between six and eight hours to complete can now be done in just two hours.

After 10 years, the 3D Printing and Planning Unit at the SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital has consolidated itself as a national and international leader, proving that 3D technology is not just innovation, but also a key surgical tool.