Hope for Amputation Injuries: Scientists Use 3-D Printing to Regrow Ears
Amputation injuries cause some of the most catastrophic and life-long damage any dedicated Missouri personal injury attorney helps victims cope with during a career. Even the loss of a single finger or toe causes severe pain, requires extensive medical care, and changes the way you live your life.
Recent research has begun to offer hope for future survivors of amputation injuries. At Cornell University, scientists have combined living cell tissue and 3-D printing technology to grow replacement human ears made of living tissue. One day, these ears may be grown using cells from the bodies of those who lost an ear in an accident – allowing these people to regain the body part that they’ve lost.
The ears grown in the study were based on cells taken from cow cartilage, which is easier to obtain than human cartilage, say scientists. However, it’s not inconceivable that a patient’s cartilage, taken from another part of the body, might be used to grow that person a new ear in the future.
Although the technology is in its early stages, researchers are optimistic. Work so far has focused on using living cells to grow all kinds of body parts for many years, but the combination with 3-D technology allows for more realistic results to be developed in less time. Someday, researchers predict, it will be possible to grow not only new body parts for reattachment, but body parts that match those the person lost - including skin color, size, and shape.
Catastrophic injury attorney John Page will fight for the compensation you need, whether that means filing a workers’ compensation claim or a lawsuit against those who have caused an accident. With the help of our legal team, you can be on your way to recovering to the best of your abilities. Contact us at (314) 322-8515 for a consultation on your case.
