3-D printing helps produce better care for craniofacial patients at NHRMC
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (StarNews) — It’s been a busy year so far for New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s cleft lip and palate team. Heading into July, which is National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month, the team enrolled its 100th patient.
Led by Dr. Michael Jaskolka, the unit has added at least one new feature.
“I’ve gotten pretty good making skulls and mandibles,” Jaskolka said.
Jaskolka is an early adopter of 3-D printing technology in the medical field. After he’s finished manipulating an image based on a patient’s CT scan, he sends that information to a box about the size of a mini-refrigerator that’s tucked into a corner of his office. Half a day later, a remarkably lifelike recreation — formed of plastic, not bone — emerges.
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