Mashudu Tshifularo is professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He made history by performing the world’s first 3D-printed middle-ear replacement surgery in 2019. Tshifularo used innovative additive manufacturing technology to print the bones that make up the middle ear (hammer, anvil, stirrup and the ossicles) and successfully implanted the model into a trauma patient.
“By replacing only the ossicles that aren’t functioning properly, the procedure carries significantly less risk than known prostheses and their associated surgical procedures. We will use titanium for this procedure, which is biocompatible. We use an endoscope to do the replacement, so the transplant is expected to be quick, with minimal scarring,”
-MashuduTshifularo in an interview to Good Things Guy.
Tshifularo — originally from Venda in Limpopo — is the Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Pretoria and considered the top Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) specialist in the country. Under his leadership the department has launched the Steve Biko Roberts Kerr Cochlear Implants Project that has restored hearing to many economically challenged individuals. Tshifularo’s 3D-printed middle-ear replacement surgery isn’t the first historical accomplishment of his medical career.
He also made history in 2008 by developing a surgical technique that allowed for a bloodless endoscope-assisted tonsillectomy, an operation that is considered to be the world’s first.
As South Africa’s first Black ENT specialist, Tshifularo has spent his time at the University of Pretoria, training more Black South African ENT specialists than any other institution in the country.
In this interview is also reported the Tshifularo’ living by the motto “innovate or perish,” and his career of first proves his dedication to the belief.
“Our future is in innovation towards excellent, internationally recognised solutions. Our aims are to improve safety and efficiency and to reduce costs in our communities as the field of ENT progresses.”, ended Tshifularo.
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Devin Crudup, Afrotech Mashudu Tshifularo Makes History By Performing World’s First 3D-Printed Middle-Ear Transplant https://afrotech.com/mashudu-tshifularo-makes-history-by-performing-worlds-first-3d-printed-middle-ear-transplant published on Feb11 2020, re-edited and published by João Andrade on Feb17 2020;
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