‘You gave me my life back’: Custom 3D-printed implant helps patient regain her mobility September 3, 2026 Kim Webb-Simpson rides one of her horses. Kim Webb-Simpson was only the second patient in the province to undergo the procedure performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jacob Matz Two years after receiving a custom 3D-printed ankle bone, Kim Webb-Simpson is back doing what she loves most: riding horses, tending her gardens, and enjoying the mobility she once feared she had lost forever. Five years ago, however, that future seemed far from certain when she awoke one morning with excruciating pain in her ankle. What followed was years of medical appointments, treatments, and uncertainty before an innovative procedure offered a new path forward. A mysterious pain It was early January 2021 when Kim first realized something was wrong. As she tried to get out of bed, a wave of pain from her left ankle hit out of nowhere. “I had no inkling there was an issue,” said the retired nurse who lives in southern New Brunswick. “I got out of bed, the pain hit me.” With no obvious injury, she hobbled on her foot for several weeks before heading to the hospital, where an X-ray came back normal. However, when 12 weeks of physiotherapy did not lead to any improvement, Kim pushed her family physician to have an MRI done. “About a week and a half later, I get a call from him, and he said, ‘It’s really bad,’” she recalled. Two days later, she met with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jacob Matz and was diagnosed with avascular necrosis of the talus, a condition in which bone tissue dies because of a loss of blood supply. The talus serves as a critical bridge between the lower leg and foot, making it essential for both up-and-down and side-to-side ankle movement. Dr. Jacob Matz with several staff members from Clinic 1 at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital. A difficult journey For Kim, the diagnosis marked the beginning of a long and difficult journey. Over the next several months, she relied on crutches, a walking boot and eventually a cane as pain and limited mobility affected nearly every aspect of her daily life. At the same time, she was serving as the primary caregiver for her mother, adding to the challenges she faced. “The pain was so bad for so long, there were times when I was considering telling him to just cut my foot off,” said Kim. Initially, Dr. Matz pursued a less invasive approach in hopes of saving the bone. He performed a procedure known as a core decompression, which is designed to stimulate new blood vessel growth. Unfortunately, the procedure was unsuccessful, and the talus continued to deteriorate. Considering her options As her condition progressed, Kim and Dr. Matz began discussing more definitive treatment options. One involved ankle fusion, a procedure that can relieve pain but permanently eliminates movement in the joint. The other was a custom-designed 3D-printed talus implant, a relatively new procedure in New Brunswick. As a retired nurse, Kim approached the decision carefully. “I did a lot of research,” she said. “I researched each procedure that was talked about, and I had a list of questions about each one.” After months of research and discussions with Dr. Matz, she ultimately chose the custom implant. Kim was only the second patient in New Brunswick to undergo the procedure. Since introducing the technology in Saint John several years ago, Dr. Matz has performed a handful of these surgeries, primarily in complex cases where traditional treatment options are limited. “Sometimes this can be the alternative to an amputation,” he said. “It allows them to preserve their limb and preserve range of motion.” Each implant is customized for the individual patient using detailed CT scans of both ankles. Imaging from the healthy ankle is used to create a mirrored replacement tailored to the patient’s anatomy before the implant is manufactured from medical-grade titanium. Back in the saddle Kim underwent surgery in June 2024 and quickly discovered that recovery would be challenging. For five weeks, she was largely confined to her home while the ankle healed. Despite the challenges, she remained focused on one goal: getting back on a horse. By the fall, she had achieved it. “It wasn’t pretty, but I got back on the horse,” said Kim. “I just felt like I’d been set free.” Kim Webb-Simpson works in her garden. Today, Kim estimates she has regained 95 to 98 per cent of her previous function and is once again spending time with her horses, maintaining her gardens, and enjoying the independence she once feared she might lose. “I’m just happy that I can be about and doing my thing,” she said. Looking back, Kim credits Dr. Matz and his team with helping her reclaim the life she thought might be slipping away. “Thank you, Dr. Matz and team, for giving me my life back,” she said. “You don’t know what it means to me.”