For years, we know that there’s no other treatment to deafness besides using the hearing aid. But recently, a South African doctor Professor Mashudu Tshifularo and his team just successfully pioneered a transplant of a patient’s middle ear using 3D technology to cure his deafness.
Over the last decade, Professor Tshifularo, the Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat, ENT studies) at the University of Pretoria focused his Ph.D. on conductive hearing loss and came up with the idea of using 3D technology.
As the first black ENT specialist in South Africa, Professor Tshifularo is considered among the best in the country in his field.
MEC @GwenRamokgopa6 is today at Steve Biko Academic Hospital to give best wishes to a team that will conduct world’s first surgical procedure using 3D-printed middle ear bones. This may be answer to conductive hearing loss, a middle ear problem caused by congenital birth defects. pic.twitter.com/pIJn56LQE1
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) March 13, 2019
He uses 3D technology to recreate the inner ear bones that may be damaged—thus restoring a patient’s hearing.
1) “By replacing only ossicles that aren’t functioning properly, the procedure carries significantly less risk than known prostheses and their associated surgical procedures,” Prof Tshifularo pic.twitter.com/NbnwHSn2Mu
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) March 13, 2019
First in the world, the groundbreaking procedure offers hope to those who suffer from loss of hearing. According to the South African Government, the first person to receive the transplant was a 35-year-old man who damaged his inner ear and suffered hearing loss after a car accident.
RT Using #3DPrinted bones, Professor Mashudu Tshifularo from @UPTuks and a team of 3D printing specialists have pioneered the world’s first middle ear transplant. @DerekWatts was in theatre to witness this groundbreaking procedure. Join #CarteBlanche this Sunday at 7pm on @MNet. pic.twitter.com/OOnY1BstB7
— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) March 21, 2019
Using 3D technology, Professor Tshifularo and his team from the University of Pretoria (UP) Faculty of Health performed the operation at the Steve Biko Academic hospital in Pretoria on March 13.
Steve Biko Hospital conducts world's first ever middle ear transplant | @Health24com https://t.co/XEa7s2iuGd pic.twitter.com/YPz0Xr79Ow
— News24 (@News24) March 14, 2019
Professor Tshifularo was able to replace the damaged ones by recreating the bones—the hammer, anvil, stirrup, and the ossicles that make up the inner ear. They successfully performed the surgery in one and a half hours.
“The patients will get their hearing back immediately but since they will be wrapped in bandages, only after two weeks, when they are removed, will they be able to tell a difference,” told Professor Tshifularo as to when the patient will be able to get their hearing back.
The April edition one of Vuk'uzenzele Newspaper is out, read an exclusive interview with Prof Mashudu Tshifularo who conducted a world first middle ear operation at Steve Biko Hospital. https://t.co/b9kvdr9deA@GautengHealth #MonthEndGotMe #FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/ttIuRGpcNk
— Vuk'uzenzele (@VukuzenzeleNews) March 29, 2019
“By replacing only the ossicles that aren’t functioning properly, the procedure carries significantly less risk than known prostheses and their associated surgical procedures.”
The professor also explained that they used titanium for the procedure because it is biocompatible.
#MCM Professor Mashudu Tshifularo. The first person to do an ear transplant to restore hearing.
“I’ve just done a middle ear transplant – the first in the world, pioneering restoring middle ear bones when you have conductive hearing loss.", Prof Tshifularo.#ProudVenda #MyVenda pic.twitter.com/llvLAU1A1d— My Venda (@MyVenda) March 18, 2019
“We use an endoscope to do the replacement, so the transplant is expected to be quick, with minimal scarring,” added the professor.
Professor Tshifularo has previously designed and patented a number of medical devices used in the area of ENT today and this one is his another successful story.
The best part about this surgery is that it will be available to patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly.
Beyond EPIC!!! Professor Mashudu Tshifularo and his team from the University of Pretoria (UP) Faculty of Health at the Steve Biko Academic hospital in Pretoria. 3D technology!!!!!Thank you for sharing sister Judith Tree Williams! Love Mary… https://t.co/M9UAKUWrGw
— Mary Bradley-Brown (@metriplet) May 19, 2019
Professor Tshifularo is currently looking for sponsors to bring this to the medical community and make this technology more affordable to all.
Watch Professor Tshifularo explanation in the interview below:
At Steve Biko Academic Hospital in conversation with Professor Mashudu Tshifularo who, together with his team, developed a pioneering surgical procedure using 3D-printed middle ear bones at the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Health #WeCare #GautengATWork pic.twitter.com/zRvnJUFeLl
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) March 13, 2019
Credit: The Epoch Times
