Bone voyage

The remarkable journey of two innovators whose work is poised to revolutionise bone reconstructive surgery

- Nirmal Jovial

In India, professions are often compartmentalised, with doctors and dentists primarily seen as healers. Defying this norm are Dr Adersh G.A., assistant professor at the department of surgery at PMS Dental College in Thiruvananthapuram, and Shivadhath R.P., a house surgeon at the same college. Their passion extends beyond traditional dentistry, to innovating and crafting novel medical solutions. Together, they have pioneered the world’s first clinical 3D bone graft printer, OsseoCraft, which is poised to revolutionise bone reconstructive surgery globally.

“Bone reconstruction for cases of bone loss typically involves the use of material like titanium and certain plastics. But they just provided support for existing bone or tissue, rather than fostering bone regeneration,” says Adersh, who co-founded the startup Pionomed Biogenix with Shivadhath. “Unlike these conventional options, the material we employ possesses unique properties that stimulate bone growth. It is osseo-conductive, which means it attracts bone formation. Consequently, when these particles are implanted in the body, bone forms around them, making this product unique.”

Moreover, this 3D-printed graft significantly reduces operative time compared to traditional methods like bone harvesting from other parts of the body. “For example, in cases of accidents or cancer surgeries resulting in bone loss, traditional approaches necessitate complex microvascular surgeries to transplant bone from elsewhere in the body,” says Adersh.