12-Year-Old Undergoes Shoulder Blade Reconstruction with a 3D-Printed Implant at Schneider Children's

 

As time passed, Alma's pain was accompanied by a visible swelling that kept increasing. Growing more concerned, her parents brought her to Kaplan Medical Center, where she underwent an MRI scan and was sent home. Before the results were available, they decided to turn to Schneider Children's, part of the Clalit group. There, Dr. Israel Weiss, Director of the Orthopedic Oncology Unit - who was abroad at the time - reviewed the MRI remotely and determined that Alma should be hospitalized for a biopsy.

Following several days of evaluation, the diagnosis was confirmed: Ewing sarcoma—a malignant tumor originating in connective tissue. In Alma's case, the tumor developed in an unusually rare location - the shoulder blade.

Dr. Shiri Rubin, a senior oncologist in the Hemato-Oncology Division at Schneider Children's and Alma's attending physician, explained:

"This is a type of bone cancer, the second most common among children. It is a very rare and aggressive tumor that accounts for about 3% of pediatric cancers, primarily affecting children between the ages of 10 and 15. Due to its rarity, we typically encounter only one or two cases yearly. Nevertheless, a well-established, globally recognized treatment protocol has consistently shown positive outcomes. When the tumor is localized and without metastasis, there is a 70% chance of recovery and a 30% chance of recurrence. Shortly after the diagnosis, Alma was already on the fast track for urgent treatment. She underwent ovarian tissue preservation surgery, received aggressive chemotherapy, and once the tumor had responded to treatment, she was rushed into surgery."

According to Dr. Israel Weiss, Director of the Orthopedic Oncology Unit at Schneider Children's:

"The goal of the surgery, beyond saving her life, of course, was to preserve arm function as much as possible and ensure a good cosmetic outcome, which is especially important for a girl her age. This complex surgery was possible thanks to the recently established in-house 3D development center at Schneider Children's. A 3D model was created based on her anatomy as part of the surgical planning. This included scanning the healthy shoulder blade to generate a mirrored version that matched the exact size and weight of the bone to be removed.

The surgery, which was especially complex due to the tumor's rare location, lasted about six hours and involved a multidisciplinary team from Schneider Children's. During the procedure, we detached the shoulder blade from the collarbone, removed it, and implanted the 3D-printed prosthesis in its place. Alma successfully underwent the complex procedure. She is currently in physiotherapy and continues with additional chemotherapy cycles, with cautious optimism for a full recovery."