Groundbreaking bioengineering and 3D printing technology at Griffith is creating hope for sufferers of Scapholunate Interosseous Ligament (SLIL) injury, the most common of wrist ligament injuries.
SLIL injuries cause dislocation of scaphoid and lunate bones and can be career-ending for an athlete and result in long-term disability for others.
Typically, SLIL injuries are surgically treated, but have poor prognosis, with patients developing functional limitations and severe hand/wrist osteoarthritis, which impairs long-term health and imposes substantial economic burden.
Many Australians suffer a SLIL injury each year due simply to an active, outdoors lifestyle. Meanwhile, the traditional reconstruction technique involves surgical procedures which can typically result in losing up to a third of wrist functionality and strength.
Pioneering technique
However, Gold Coast Health and Griffith’s Professor Randy Bindra and Professor David Lloyd from Gold Coast Orthopaedic Research, Engineering and Education Alliance (GCORE), in conjunction with colleagues from Orthocell and the Universities of Queensland and Western Australia, are

