Specialist clinics use 3D printing to rehabilitate Crans-Montana fire survivors

Rehabilitation is showing early progress for people injured in the Crans-Montana fire disaster, with specialist jackets, compression garments and 3D-printed masks helping their recovery, SRF reported.

Of the 115 people who survived the disaster with injuries, 42 have so far been admitted to rehabilitation. Ten are still receiving inpatient treatment, including six at the rehabilitation clinic in Sion and four at the clinic in Bellikon in the canton of Aargau.

The two clinics specialise in severe burn injuries and are run by Suva, Switzerland’s accident insurer. Thirty-two patients have already left rehabilitation, although some continue to return for outpatient treatment. Gianni Roberto Rossi, who leads both clinics, expects treatment for the survivors to continue well into next year.

The clinics have not faced capacity problems. “Our aim was to admit all those affected who live in Switzerland. So far, we have not had to turn anyone away,” Rossi said.

Custom-made support

Patrick Meier, deputy head of technical orthopaedics in Bellikon, works with the survivors every day and makes aids such as compression garments and silicone masks.

He recently designed a special jacket for a patient whose upper body is almost completely immobile. The jacket has one zip at the front and another at the back. Dressing aids can eventually allow patients to put on the garments themselves.

The large number of patients with severe burns has also accelerated development, particularly in the production of facial masks, Meier said. Instead of making a silicone impression of the face, staff have scanned the faces of some patients and produced their masks with a 3D printer.

A difficult step towards independence

The teams in Sion and Bellikon work closely together. Meier already knew many of the patients from their acute treatment at University Hospital Zurich.

The move to rehabilitation is both a physical and psychological milestone for those injured. “In the acute hospital, doctors and nurses came to their rooms. In rehabilitation, they have to come to us themselves. That is a crucial part of the rehabilitation,” Meier said.

Long-term care remains a major challenge for everyone involved. But Rossi said the progress made by young patients who are able to return home gives the entire team new energy.