Thanks to modern 3D printing technology, the Romans Ferrari Rehabilitation Center has developed an innovative method for treating facial burns in children.
Through a new digital workflow combining 3D scanning and 3D printing, custom compression masks are created.
This shortens the production process, increases comfort, and enhances patients' recovery. The method has already assisted over 100 patients, showcasing the potential of 3D printing in healthcare.
Romans Ferrari Utilizes Modern 3D Printing for Custom Compression Masks in Facial Burn Treatment.
A 3D-printed compression mask in use for the treatment of facial burns at the Romans Ferrari Rehabilitation Center. The innovative technology allows for precise and comfortable customization to patients' needs; Image: Formlabs
There are few things more tragic in life than children suffering severe trauma — but when an accident does happen, Romans Ferrari is one of the best places for recovery.
Located close to Lyon in France, Romans Ferrari is a pediatric rehabilitation center that provides care to children and adolescents who have had trauma, brain damage, brain tumors, polytrauma, and severe burns.
A focus of the center is treating severe facial burns, for which specialized compressive masks are utilized to reduce complications and scarring. However, the conventional method of creating these masks involved an uncomfortable process that could induce post-traumatic stress disorder, especially in children.
Through a unique collaboration among doctors, prosthetists, and engineers, the Romans Ferrari Rehabilitation Center developed a new digital workflow for creating custom compression masks using 3D scanning and 3D printing. This enables faster, more precise, and more comfortable treatment for patients with severe facial burns.
The traditional method of producing compression masks involved plaster casts, which proved uncomfortable and distressing for patients. With the new digital workflow, patients' faces are scanned using a 3D scanner, and the masks are then 3D printed. This not only shortens the production process but also enhances comfort and mask effectiveness.
The groundbreaking approach of the Romans Ferrari Rehabilitation Center has successfully assisted over 100 patients, and the center aims to make this technology accessible worldwide. Thanks to digital technologies, patients in remote areas can now benefit from this innovative treatment method.
This example illustrates how 3D printing is revolutionizing healthcare, making a tangible difference in the lives of children who have experienced severe trauma.
