Perspective: 3D Imaging Improves Surgical Outcomes

Summer Decker, PhD, leads 3D imaging for Keck Medicine and serves as director of the USC Center for Innovation in Medical Visualization with the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Advanced visualization, including 3D imaging and printing, is among the most impactful technologies of our time. They allow us to better understand the past, and to reimagine the future.

I believe that one day we may be able to benefit from using 3D-printed tissues or organs for life-saving transplants. But even before we get there, this technology is already transforming medical care for the better.

Here at Keck Medicine, we’re using high-resolution medical imaging like CT and MRI scanners to create 3D-printed models of patients’ organs that surgeons can use to plan, practice and guide procedures.

As an example, 3D imaging assists Keck Medicine orthopaedic surgeons with joint replacements. With a 3D model of a patient’s pelvis, our surgeons can better determine which size device is most appropriate and the best spot to make the incision.

This is the magic behind the curtain. When surgeons can practice with an exact replica in advance, it makes the surgery safer and more precise.

This also makes procedures faster, which can improve outcomes because patients don’t need to be under anesthesia as long.

Patients may also benefit from holding a replica of their own organ in their hand. It can help them better understand their condition and treatment options. For instance, 3D imaging currently allows us to show patients with cancer how their condition has changed after undergoing therapy.

And this is only the beginning. The scope of our 3D technology holds inspiring prospects for how we in the medical field can continue to grasp the mysteries of the human body – not only looking forward, but also in how we understand the past.

In February, our team conducted full-body CT scans on two Egyptian mummies that had been preserved for more than 2,200 years. We then created 3D digital models of the mummies, who are part of an ongoing “Mummies of the World” exhibition at the California Science Center (open through Sept. 7).

Our analysis showed that one of these Egyptian priests probably endured an aching lower back and healed broken ribs; the other, dental issues and a severely broken and displaced hip.

These insights are both exciting and resonant with the ongoing experiences of human health.

One of the things I appreciate most about Keck Medicine is the commitment to innovation. My team works side by side with clinicians every day to determine how 3D imaging, visualization and printing can best be applied to improve patient experiences and outcomes.

I’m excited to see how far we can take it and what the future brings.

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