Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 May 17;2(5):e071.
doi: 10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-17-00071. eCollection 2018 May.

Use of Three-dimensional Printing in Orthopaedic Surgical Planning

Marcelo Galvez  1 , Takeshi Asahi  1 , Alejandro Baar  1 , Giovanni Carcuro  1 , Natalio Cuchacovich  1 , Jorge A Fuentes  1 , Rodrigo Mardones  1 , Carlos E Montoya  1 , Roberto Negrin  1 , Felipe Otayza  1 , Gonzalo M Rojas  1 , Andrés Chahin  1
Affiliations

Use of Three-dimensional Printing in Orthopaedic Surgical Planning

Marcelo Galvez et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. .

Abstract

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a technique based on overlapping layers of a material (eg, plastic, clay, and metal). The widespread implementation of 3D printers has resulted in a notable increase in use. Fields such as construction, engineering, and medicine benefit from this technique.

Aim: The use of 3D printed scale models permits better surgical planning and results.

Methods: The models were created based on CT images of seven patients (age range, 5 to 61 years) with different pathologies who were candidates for surgery.

Results: Surgical time decreased as a result of detailed surgical planning with printed models. This technique also was associated with a decrease in bleeding, a reduction in the amount of anesthesia required, and greater precision. In some patients, a change in surgical strategy was noted, thus allowing for a reduction in the number of surgeries and the aggressiveness of surgery. Finally, the preoperative practice (virtual and physical osteotomies using cutting tools) that was performed in two cases allowed the surgeon to evaluate the different approach alternatives and establish the best strategy.

Conclusions: The use of 3D-printed anatomic models has improved surgical planning, especially for patients in whom the conventional techniques are insufficient for establishing a proper strategy. The extra information provided by 3D-printed models can lead to a better intervention strategy, which is beneficial for patients because it decreases the risks, procedure times, and recovery times.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Mr. Baar or an immediate family member is a member of a speakers' bureau or has made paid presentations on behalf of Orthofix; serves as a paid consultant to Orthofix; and serves as a board member, owner, officer, or committee member of Revista Chilena de Ortopedia y Traumatologia and the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Committee of the Chilean Orthopaedic Society. Mr. Carcuro or an immediate family member is a member of a speakers' bureau or has made paid presentations on behalf of Arthrex. Mr. Cuchacovich or an immediate family member has received nonincome support (such as equipment or services), commercially derived honoraria, or other non–research-related funding (such as paid travel) from Orthofix. Mr. Mardones or an immediate family member is a member of a speakers' bureau or has made paid presentations on behalf of Smith & Nephew; has stock or stock options held in BiosCell and BiotecCel; and serves as a board member, owner, officer, or committee member of the American Journal of Sport Medicine, Arthroscopy, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, the International Society of Hip Arthroscopy, and Revista Chilena de Ortopedia y Traumatologia. Mr. Negrin or an immediate family member is a member of a speakers' bureau or has made paid presentations on behalf of Zimmer Biomet and Smith & Nephew; has received research or institutional support from Smith & Nephew; and has received nonincome support (such as equipment or services), commercially derived honoraria, or other non–research-related funding (such as paid travel) from Zimmer Biomet. None of the following authors or any immediate family member has received anything of value from or has stock or stock options held in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article: Mr. Galvez, Mr. Asahi, Mr. Fuentes, Mr. Montoya, Mr. Otayza, Mr. Rojas, and Mr. Chahin.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A, Sagittal CT scan of the cervical spine of patient A demonstrating C1-C2 instability and stenosis of the foramen magnum, with medullary (bulbo-medullary) compression. Three-dimensional virtual representation (B) and three-dimensional printed model (C) of the affected vertebrae.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A, Preoperative CT reconstruction of the skull created with a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) using CT images of the craniosynostosis in patient B. B, Preoperative photograph showing the 3D printed model of the skull. C, Photograph showing the surgeon making incisions on the plastic model of the skull. D, Preoperative CT reconstruction of the skull created with PACS.
Figure 3
Figure 3
AP and lateral radiographs of the spine in patient D before (A) and after (B) surgical treatment for scoliosis. C, CT reconstruction of the spine created with a picture archiving and communication system from CT images. D, Photograph of the three-dimensional–printed model of the spine.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A, Lateral radiograph of patient E with Proteus syndrome. B, Photograph showing the lateral view of a 3D print of the foot with the screws from previous surgeries highlighted in red. C, Photograph showing the 3D virtual representation of the foot with a transparency factor that allowed the surgeon to visualize three screws.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Garekar S, Bharati A, Chokhandre M, et al. : Clinical application and multidisciplinary assessment of three dimensional printing in double outlet right ventricle with remote ventricular septal defect. World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2016;7:344-350. - PubMed
    1. Jastifer JR, Gustafson PA: Three-dimensional printing and surgical simulation for preoperative planning of deformity correction in foot and ankle surgery. J Foot Ankle Surg 2017;56:191-195. - PubMed
    1. PwC: 3D Printing and the New Shape of Industrial Manufacturing. Chart pack, June 2014. https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/industrial-products/library/3d-prin.... Accessed January 9, 2017.
    1. Davis L, Hawkinson E: Board 511-technology innovations abstract 3D printing: A new frontier in simulation (submission #514). Simul Healthc 2013;8:614.
    1. Mpofu TP, Mawere C, Mukosera M: The impact and application of 3D printing technology. Int J Sci Res 2014;3:2148-2152.

LinkOut - more resources