When John Manwaring lost a jawbone to cancer two years ago he never expected to become part of a world-first medical marvel.
The 58-year-old originally had the jawbone rebuilt with bone from his leg but that disintegrated under further cancer treatment.
It is now coming up to nearly a year since he received a second implant, which was 3D-printed by Singapore-based company Osteopore.
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This was due to scanning and development undertaken at the Herston Biofabrication Institute.
"This is not something that had ever been tried in a patient before in this particular context," Dr Michael Wagels said.
Manwaring, who was flying into Brisbane for treatment from his home in Rockhampton, said the procedure had made a huge difference to his life.
"I never thought it was possible," he said.
"I can now walk to the shops without everyone staring at me."
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Dr Milap Rughani said Manwaring's grandchildren were also affected.
"His grandkids were struggling to sort of play with him, see him and I think he found that quite tough," he said.
The grandfather said his grandchildren had "come to accept me the way I look now".
"Whereas before they were a little bit standoffish," he said.
The Queenslander's latest scans have confirmed the implant is on track to be replaced by his own jawbone in the coming years as bone regeneration slowly works its magic, and the scaffold eventually dissolves.
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That regeneration is only possible thanks to tissue taken from Manwaring's knee, which was wrapped around the implant and connected to a blood supply in his jaw.
The process is one which can now potentially go further to help more patients.
"It still amazes me," Rughani said.
"I'm grateful for all that we get to do and look after patients. They're the real heroes," Rughani said.
Manwaring said he sees the process as a step forward.
"He said something about being brave about it, I didn't see that at all, I see it as being an advancement," he said.
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January 30, 2023 at 03:25PM
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When John Manwaring lost a jawbone to cancer two years ago he never expected to become part of a world-first medical marvel.
The 58-year-old originally had the jawbone rebuilt with bone from his leg but that disintegrated under further cancer treatment.
It is now coming up to nearly a year since he received a second implant, which was 3D-printed by Singapore-based company Osteopore.
READ MORE: Aussies are lying on home loan applications amid affordability crisis
This was due to scanning and development undertaken at the Herston Biofabrication Institute.
"This is not something that had ever been tried in a patient before in this particular context," Dr Michael Wagels said.
Manwaring, who was flying into Brisbane for treatment from his home in Rockhampton, said the procedure had made a huge difference to his life.
"I never thought it was possible," he said.
"I can now walk to the shops without everyone staring at me."
READ MORE: 'Odds very high' of US-China war, top official warns
Dr Milap Rughani said Manwaring's grandchildren were also affected.
"His grandkids were struggling to sort of play with him, see him and I think he found that quite tough," he said.
The grandfather said his grandchildren had "come to accept me the way I look now".
"Whereas before they were a little bit standoffish," he said.
The Queenslander's latest scans have confirmed the implant is on track to be replaced by his own jawbone in the coming years as bone regeneration slowly works its magic, and the scaffold eventually dissolves.
READ MORE: 'I know what it is': Dad taped after wife and son killed
That regeneration is only possible thanks to tissue taken from Manwaring's knee, which was wrapped around the implant and connected to a blood supply in his jaw.
The process is one which can now potentially go further to help more patients.
"It still amazes me," Rughani said.
"I'm grateful for all that we get to do and look after patients. They're the real heroes," Rughani said.
Manwaring said he sees the process as a step forward.
"He said something about being brave about it, I didn't see that at all, I see it as being an advancement," he said.
