Thu Dec 18 10:57:05 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Doctors Use 3D Printing to Save Limbs Amidst Devastation
Gaza City – Facing a collapsing healthcare system and severe shortages due to the ongoing conflict, doctors in Gaza are turning to innovative solutions, utilizing solar-powered 3D printers to manufacture life-saving medical devices. With Israeli military operations having crippled the enclave’s medical infrastructure, Palestinian doctors are using recycled materials to create external fixators for complex fractures, offering a lifeline to patients at risk of amputation.
Dr. Fadel Naim, acting director general of al-Ahli Arab Hospital, is leading the initiative with support from the medical solidarity organization Glia. They are producing these crucial devices, which normally cost over $500, using open-source designs and solar energy, overcoming limitations imposed by frequent electricity blackouts.
Zakaria, a displaced Palestinian injured by shrapnel, was the first patient to receive the locally-made fixator. He expressed gratitude for the device, which allowed him to avoid amputation and regain mobility. According to Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, this pioneering technology is a “lifeline” in a region grappling with destroyed infrastructure.
Glia reports that twelve more patients are awaiting treatment, highlighting the urgent need for these devices. The organization emphasizes the project’s global significance, demonstrating how 3D printing can be utilized in extreme conditions and offering a model for other conflict zones and disaster-affected regions.
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