{
  "id": 31687,
  "title": "Israeli surgeons use customized 3D implant to replace sternum, ribs in rare cancer patient",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/israeli-surgeons-use-customized-3d-implant-to-replace-sternum-ribs-in",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-02T06:26:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-904167"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Surgeons at Clalit-Beilinson Hospital successfully replaced a woman's sternum and part of her ribs with a custom 3D-printed implant, marking the first such procedure performed in Israel. The patient, Hadas, a young woman in her twenties, had a sternum-tumor that turned out to be an extremely rare type of sarcoma called BRAF-altered mesenchymal tumor, found in only about 20 cases globally.\n\nTo remove the tumor, surgeons had to remove not only the sternum but also parts of her ribs. Head of Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Yury Peysakhovich, described the complexities of the surgery, stating that improper reconstruction could affect respiratory mechanics and heart and lung protection. Peysakhovich explained that every breath, cough, or movement places significant stress on this area, making it one of the most intricate reconstructions in thoracic surgery.\n\nThe surgical team opted for a fully customized 3D-printed chest implant made of PEKK (polyether ketone ketone), a high-performance carbon fiber-reinforced polymer. This material was chosen for its balance of strength and flexibility, closely mimicking natural bone. Dr. Israel Weiss, Head of Orthopedic Oncology, noted that the implant's flexibility was crucial for the chest wall's constant movement during breathing and that it allows adjoining tissue to integrate over time.\n\nThe surgery, lasting about two hours, involved removing the diseased bone and replacing it with the custom-designed implant through a discreet incision under the breasts. This approach aimed to minimize visible scarring and improve cosmetic outcomes. Hadas has since recovered well at home.\n\nThe successful procedure highlighted the benefits of advanced 3D-printing technology and close collaboration among multiple surgical specialties, offering a solution that was previously unavailable.",
  "summary": "\"Rare cases require creative solutions,\" Dr. Peysakhovich said, adding that just a few years ago, this solution simply wouldn't have been available.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}