TK Media SA

19/12/2025

18/12/2025

Professor Mashudu Tshifularo, a South African ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, led a medical team that performed the world’s first successful middle-ear transplant using 3D-printed bones, marking a major breakthrough in treating certain types of hearing loss. Before this innovation, conductive hearing loss, caused by damage to the tiny ossicles (hammer, anvil and stirrup) in the middle ear, had limited treatment options. On March 13, 2019, Tshifularo and his team at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria used 3D printing technology to recreate and implant these tiny bones, restoring hearing for a patient whose ear had been severely damaged; the procedure was done through minimally invasive endoscopic surgery and allowed the patient to regain hearing function.

The success of this transplant offers hope to millions affected by middle ear disorders by providing a customized and potentially more effective alternative to traditional prostheses, which often had limited success. Using biocompatible 3D-printed implants allows for exact anatomical matches, reducing surgical risk and improving outcomes, and has already been applied to additional patients. Tshifularo’s work not only represents a medical milestone but also highlights the potential of 3D printing in personalized medicine and hearing restoration worldwide.

18/12/2025

MEDIA STATEMENT

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