On April 10, the Orthopaedic Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, together with the Center of Digital Medicine (3D Printing Center), completed the first case of TiRobot surgery combined with 3D printing technology for the treatment of periprosthetic femoral neck fracture in China. The surgery was completed by Nie Tao, vice president of the Orthopaedic Hospital and head of the Department of Orthopaedics for Traumatic Injuries, and it was a major breakthrough in the clinical surgical application of 3D printing technology for the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University.

It is reported that the patient is a 39-year-old male, admitted to the hospital due to a femoral neck fracture caused by another trauma, only three months after a right femur stem fracture surgery. Having thoroughly considered the patient's age, fracture type and other factors, Nie Tao suggested the patient to receive a surgery of closed reduction and internal fixation of the fracture. Before the surgery, the Digital Medicine Center (3D Printing Center) analyzed and modeled the patient's CT scan data through 3D printing technology to demonstrate the feasibility of the surgical method of implanting three hollow nails, designed the surgical plan of pre-setting the nails, determined the entry points, directions and lengths of the nails, and prepared corresponding surgical guides, thus helping provide the surgeon with accurate preoperative simulation, postoperative evaluation and better surgical decisions.

During the operation, Nie Tao's team implanted the three nails precisely into the originally-designed channels with TiRobot, accomplishing precise treatment for the patient and creating conditions for the patient to preserve his hip. The patient recovered well after the surgery and is now discharged from the hospital.