3D-printed tantalum metal pad. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the first day after the operation, the patient could get off the bed and walk with assistance. In a week, he could leave the hospital to receive recovery treatment and training.

At present, titanium alloy is mainly used in this field. Tantalum is more suitable than other metals for use in the human body, but ordinary 3D printers cannot use tantalum due to its very high melting point of over 3,000 degrees Celsius.

Yang Liu, the director of the joint surgery department at the hospital, worked with a Chinese 3D printing company to solve the technical problems and produced the tantalum metal pad.

Zhang Jingui, 84, gets off the bed on the first day after the operation. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]