Chinese surgeons have successfully implanted a 3D-printed vertebra into the spine of a 12-year-old boy suffering from bone cancer.

The surgery, which the doctors say was the first of its kind, took five hours in total, with the replacement vertebra constructed from titanium powder and incorporating tiny pores to allow the bone to grow into 3D-printed part.

The malignant tumour in the young boy’s spine was discovered after he was playing football and injured his neck while heading a ball.

Liu Zhongjun, the director of Peking’s Orthopaedics Department where the operation took place, explains that this unique design allowed doctors to avoid the screws and cements used in traditional implants that can sometimes detach years later.

The 3D-printed vertebra on the far right, and the traditional aluminium support tube in the middle. Image: Reuters

"Using existing technology, the patient's head needs to be framed with pins after surgery," Liu explained to Reuters. "But with 3D printing technology, we can simulate the shape of the vertebra, which is much stronger and more convenient than traditional methods."

Custom 3D-printed bones and teeth are set to be one of the big areas of growth for the technology, with Cambridge research firm IDTechEx estimating that the market will be worth $6bn by 2025.

The technology has proved particularly useful in cases where the creation of an unusual body part is needed as quickly as possible.