The 3D printing technology, which has been struggling for a number of years, saw the introduction of a series of significant favorable policies at the tail end of 2017. Recently, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and another twelve departments all listed 3D printing and medical care as one of the key tasks. Promote the improvement of policies and regulations on classification, clinical testing, registration, and market access for personalized medical 3D printing products, as well as study and determine how best to meet the needs of personalized medical devices, rehabilitation devices, implants, soft tissue repair, and new drug development in the field of medicine. The charging standards for medical service items as well as the medical insurance support standards for products and services related to medical 3D printing.

The customization provided by 3D printing makes orthopedic surgery more accurate.

In recent years, as people's living standards have improved, the aging process has accelerated, and there has been an increase in the number of head bowers and gangsters, the prevalence of diseases such as knee joints, cervical spine, and lumbar spine has also rapidly increased. When conditions such as arthritis manifest in the knee joint, they have an immediate and direct impact on the quality of life and health of the affected individuals.

The term "3D printing" refers to a relatively new manufacturing technology that is based on digital zinc die casting products models and builds physical objects by adding layers of material one on top of the other. It is an example of a disruptive technology that is currently being used in the manufacturing industry.

Professor Wang Shaojin, who was instrumental in the incorporation of 3D printing technology into the clinical treatment of knee joints in China, stated that the incidence of joint injuries in middle-aged and elderly people is as high as 80%, and the degree can be mild or severe. Professor Wang Shaojin took the lead in bringing this zinc alloy die casting technology into the clinical treatment of knee joints in China. In recent years, there has been a slow but steady rise in the number of patients diagnosed with femoral head necrosis. Wang Shaojin was still quite moved after being reminded that in 2013, the Department of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery of the Second Hospital of Shandong University disclosed the first domestic case of 3D printing being used to treat a knee bone defect.

After obtaining the patient's permission, the doctor proceeded to perform a CT scan of the bone defect, established a digital model based on the scan data, and then custom-made a bone defect filling metal spacer for the patient using titanium alloy powder as the raw material and 3D printing technology. The doctor did all of this after obtaining the patient's consent. The patient was found to be in satisfactory health at the follow-up appointment that took place three months after the operation. The technology of 3D printing is causing a revolution in the manufacturing industry, and it will also cause a revolution in the field of medicine. The trend toward individualization in orthopedic treatment is unquestionably one that is on the rise. The production cost of metal 3D printing products with new technologies and new processes is relatively high when compared to the traditional manufacturing process. This is because the production of these products requires a significant amount of fundamental research, clinical trials, and the completion of the registration process. The amount of money put into scientific research is substantial, and the process can take a long time.

According to Professor Sun Zhuqing of Shenyang Orthopedic Hospital, the emergence of 3D printing technology has solved many difficult and miscellaneous diseases in the field of orthopedic surgery, and the clinical demand continues to grow. As a result of the use of 3D printing technology to print out the orthopedic model, the amount of time spent operating on the patient and the amount of bleeding that occurs during the procedure will be reduced, as will the amount of time spent under anesthesia. It has the practical effect of relieving patients' pain, aluminum casting restoring normal functions, and enhancing the quality of their lives.

Printing models, which can accurately analyze unknown surgical risks in advance; printing prostheses, which can replace diseased and damaged human structures. These are the two most prominent functions of the 3D printing technology, according to Miao Jun, a professor of spine surgery at Tianjin Hospital. The use of 3D printing in certain complex procedures of spine surgery can assist surgeons in developing the optimal surgical plan, achieving integrated treatment, significantly lowering the risks associated with surgery as well as the costs of medical care, and providing patients with additional benefits. There is a lack of clarity regarding management strategies.

The Canadian Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) issued guidelines on December 5, 2017, for the manufacture of 3D printed medical devices. These guidelines offer manufacturers of medical devices guidance on 3D printing technology and point out the components that manufacturers are required to include in their applications for approval of 3D printed medical devices. Included are considerations for a variety of 3D printing methods, as well as requirements for quality systems, equipment design, functionality, and durability testing. This is also a reflection of the country's emphasis on and practice of 3D printing, which is an important emerging technology.

In point of fact, all countries in the world, and especially developed countries, have cultivated 3D printing as a new growth point for future development, formulated national strategies and specific promotion strategies for the development of 3D printing, and strived to seize the commanding heights of future technology and industry. This includes both the United States and China.