South American biotechnology firms in Chile and Argentina have perfected the use of 3D-Printed Bio-Resorbable Scaffolds to treat large-scale bone defects caused by trauma or tumor resection. These implants are not designed to be permanent; instead, they serve as a temporary framework that the body replaces with natural tissue.

These scaffolds are typically printed using Polycaprolactone (PCL) or bioactive glass composites. In 2026, these structures are often "bio-functionalized" with the patient's own growth factors. As the scaffold slowly degrades over 12 to 18 months, it stimulates the patient's osteoblasts to deposit new bone matrix. This technology has become a vital alternative to traditional bone grafting, which often required multiple surgeries and posed a higher risk of site morbidity.