Costa Rica 3D Prints Its First In-House Cranial Implant

A First for Public Health in Latin America

Costa Rica's public health system has successfully implanted a customized 3D-printed cranial prosthesis. The surgery took place at Hospital San Juan de Dios and marks the first time the country's social security system designed, validated, and manufactured a complex medical implant entirely in house.

The Costa Rican Social Security Fund invested 115,471,400 colones in an additive manufacturing package that includes a resin printer, an industrial filament printer, a thermal curing oven, and a dedicated post-processing lab. The setup lets biomedical engineers handle the full lifecycle of specialized devices under one roof.

How It Works

Each implant begins with high-resolution CT and MRI scans. Clinical specialists convert those images into a virtual 3D model, then sculpt a prosthesis that mirrors the patient's anatomy with millimetre accuracy. The printed part is cured, sterilised, and ready for surgery.

Dr. Jorge Badilla Corrales, head of neurosurgery at Hospital San Juan de Dios, led the operation. The team reports that the implant fit perfectly on the first attempt.

The Cost Case

Outsourcing a small cranial prosthesis used to carry a steep premium from private suppliers. Manufacturing the same part in house costs roughly 1,167,598 colones. That represents a 64 percent reduction compared with buying from an external vendor. The savings grow with larger prosthesis sizes, which historically carry the highest markups.

The institution plans to scale the program across its national hospital network. By the end of 2026, officials aim to provide personalised 3D-printed implants to at least 52 patients. The effort keeps capital inside the public system rather than flowing to overseas manufacturers.