Photo: Dr Neil McMillan
Your Home Lottery support has helped purchase two new 3D printing machines for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which will play a key role in helping to prevent and treat foot wounds for patients with diabetes.
The feet of people with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to injury, with diabetes-related foot ulcers the leading cause of lower limb amputation in Australia.
Even the most minor cuts or blisters can develop into a foot ulcer, so it’s important that patients are able to reduce friction and redistribute pressure to protect their feet.
Custom orthotics are useful in helping take the pressure off wound-prone areas, however they are often time consuming and expensive to make.
Thankfully, these new 3D printers can now offer a cheaper and quicker alternative to manufacture the orthotics. Where usually a two-week turnaround, the printers allow the orthotics to be created and mailed out within hours of receiving a foot scan!
The Hospital Research Foundation Group is proud to support the Vascular Surgery team at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research on this important work, including Dr Neil McMillan (pictured).
Thank you for improving the health of people with diabetes!