In this article, we introduce the principle, describe the utilization and discuss the future development of three-dimensional printing technology for manufacturing artificial organs.
Objective To explore the feasibility and the effectiveness of the accurate placement of lumbar pedicle screws using three-dimensional (3D) printing navigational templates in Quadrant minimally invasive system. Methods The L1-5 spines of 12 adult cadavers were scanned using CT. The 3D models of the lumbar spines were established. The screw trajectory was designed to pass through the central axis of the pedicle by using Mimics software. The navigational template was designed and 3D-printed according to the bony surface where the soft tissues could be removed. The placed screws were scanned using CT to create the 3D model again after operation. The 3D models of the designed trajectory and the placed screws were registered to evaluate the placed screws coincidence rate. Between November 2014 and November 2015, 31 patients with lumbar instability accepted surgery assisted with 3D-printing navigation module under Quadrant minimally invasive system. There were 14 males and 17 females, aged from 42 to 60 years, with an average of 45.2 years. The disease duration was 6-13 months (mean, 8.8 months). Single segment was involved in 15 cases, two segments in 13 cases, and three segments in 3 cases. Preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) was 7.59±1.04; Oswestry disability index (ODI) was 76.21±5.82; and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was 9.21±1.64. Results A total of 120 screws were placed in 12 cadavers specimens. The coincidence rate of placed screw was 100%. A total of 162 screws were implanted in 31 patients. The operation time was 65-147 minutes (mean, 102.23 minutes); the intraoperative blood loss was 50-116 mL (mean, 78.20 mL); and the intraoperative radiation exposure time was 8-54 seconds (mean, 42 seconds). At 3-7 days after operation, CT showed that the coincidence rate of the placed screws was 98.15% (159/162). At 4 weeks after operation, VAS, ODI, and JOA score were 2.24±0.80, 29.17±2.50, and 23.43±1.14 respectively, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative ones (t=14.842,P=0.006;t=36.927,P=0.002;t=–36.031,P=0.001). Thirty-one patients were followed up 8-24 months (mean, 18.7 months). All incision healed by first intention, and no complication occurred. During the follow-up, X-ray film and CT showed that pedicle screw was accurately placed without loosening or breakage, and with good fusion of intervertebral bone graft. Conclusion 3D-printing navigational templates in Quadrant minimally invasive system can help lumbar surgery gain minimal invasion, less radiation, and accurate placement.
Objective To explore the clinical methods of resection of elbow tumor and total elbow replacement with custom personalized prosthesis based on three dimensional (3-D) printing navigation template. Methods In August 2016, a 63-year-old male patient with left elbow joint tumor was treated, with the discovery of the left distal humerus huge mass over 3 months, with elbow pain, activity limitation of admission. Computer-assisted reduction technique combined with 3-D printing was used to simulate preoperative tumor resection, a customized personal prosthesis was developed; tumor was accurately excised during operation, and the clinical result was evaluated after operation. Results The time was 46 minutes for tumor resection, and was 95 minutes for personalized implant and allograft bone without fluoroscopy. X-ray and CT examination at 1 week after operation showed good position of artificial elbow joint; the anteversion of ulna prosthesis was 30° and the elbow carrying angle was 15°, which were consistent with the simulated results before surgery. The finger flexion was normal at 1 month after operation; the range of motion was 0-130° for elbow flexion and extension, 80° for forearm pronation, and 80° for forearm supination. The elbow function was able to meet the needs of daily life at 7 months after operation, and no recurrence and metastasis of tumor were observed. Conclusion For limb salvage of elbow joint, computer aided design can make preoperative surgical simulation; the navigation template can improve surgical precision; and the function of elbow joint can be reconstructed with customized and personlized prosthesis for total elbow replacement.
Large defects of jaw caused by tumor, trauma and so on in oral and maxillofacial region lead to facial deformity, language and chewing dysfunction, which severely damage the patient’s life quality. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is also named additive manufacturing (AM), which can print materials layer by layer to create three-dimensional objects. The complex shape of jaw defects can be accurately reconstructed using 3DP scaffold combined with image data, computer-aided-design and manufacture. It has specific advantages compared with traditional way of jaw reconstruction and has attracted much attention in the field of jaw tissue engineering recently. This article presented the progress of 3DP scaffold and its application in jaw reconstruction, providing a new idea for jaw reconstruction.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness and advantage of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in treatment of internal or external ankle distal avulsed fracture.MethodsBetween January 2015 and January 2017, 20 patients with distal avulsed fracture of internal or external ankle were treated with the 3D guidance of shape-blocking steel plate fixation (group A), and 18 patients were treated with traditional plaster external fixation (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury cause, disease duration, fracture side, and fracture type between 2 groups (P>0.05). Recording the fracture healing rate, fracture healing time, the time of starting to ankle functional exercise, residual ankle pain, and evaluating ankle function recovery of both groups by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score.ResultsAll patients were followed up 8-24 months, with an average of 15.5 months. In group A: all incisions healed by first intention, the time of starting to ankle functional exercise was (14±3) days, fracture healing rate was 100%, and the fracture healing time was (10.15±2.00) weeks. At 6 months, the AOFAS score was 90.35±4.65. Among them, 13 patients were excellent and 7 patients were good. All patients had no post-operative incision infection, residual ankle pain, or dysfunction during the follow-up. In group B: the time of starting to ankle functional exercise was (40±10) days, the fracture healing rate was 94.44%, and the fracture healing time was (13.83±7.49) weeks. At 6 months, the AOFAS score was 79.28±34.28. Among them, 15 patients were good, 2 patients were medium, and 1 patient was poor. During the follow-up, 3 patients (16.67%) had pain of ankle joint with different degrees. There were significant differences in the postoperative fracture healing rate, fracture healing time, the time of starting to ankle functional exercise, and postoperative AOFAS score between 2 groups (P<0.05).ConclusionApplication of 3D printing technology in treatment of internal or external ankle distal avulsed fracture is simple, safe, reliable, and effective. In particular, it is an ideal treatment for avulsed fracture.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of unstable pelvic fractures treated by cannulated screw internal fixation with the assistance of three-dimensional (3D) printing insertion template.MethodsThe clinical data of 10 patients who underwent surgical treatment for unstable pelvic fractures by cannulated screw internal fixation with the assistance of 3D printing insertion template between May 2015 and June 2016 were retrospectively analysed. There were 7 males and 3 females with an average age of 37.5 years (range, 20-58 years). The causes of injury included falling from height in 5 cases, crushing from heavy load in 1 case, and traffic accidents in 4 cases. The interval from injury to admission was 1-5 hours (mean, 3.1 hours). The fracture situation included 6 cases of sacral fracture, 1 case of right sacroiliac joint dislocation, and 3 cases of iliac bone fracture. There were 10 cases of superior and inferior pubic rami fracture, including 3 cases on the left side (2 cases of suprapubic fracture adjacent to symphysis pubis), 2 cases on the right side, and 5 cases on the bilateral. All fractures were classified according to the Tile system, there were 4 cases of type B2, 1 of type B3, 4 of type C1, and 1 of type C2. The radiological outcome was evaluated by Matta scale, and the positions of the iliosacral screw and superior pubic ramus screw were evaluated according to 3D reconstruction of CT postoperatively. The functional outcome was evaluated by Majeed function scale.ResultsThe average time of each screw implantation was 30 minutes, and the average blood loss per screw incision was 50 mL. The time of implantation of each sacroiliac screw was 24-96 seconds (mean, 62 seconds), and the time of implantation of each suprapubic screw was 42-80 seconds (mean, 63.2 seconds). The hospitalization duration was 17-90 days (mean, 43.7 days). All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-22 months (mean, 15.6 months). The radiological outcome was excellent in 8 cases and good in 2 cases according to Matta scale; and 3D reconstruction of CT demonstrated that all the 9 iliosacral screws were placed as type Ⅰ, and all the 13 suprapubic ramus screws were placed as grade 0 on the first postoperative day. No complication such as neurovascular injury, screw back out or rupture, or secondary fracture displacement was observed during the follow-up. At 6 months after operation, the X-ray films showed good fracture healing in all the 10 patients. The functional outcome was excellent in 9 cases and good in 1 case according to Majeed scale at 1 year after operation. One patient sustained Tile C2 pelvic disruption complicated with L5 nerve root injury achieved complete nervous functional recovery at last follow-up.ConclusionIt has advantages of precise screw insertion and lower risk of neurovascular injury to treat unstable pelvic fractures by cannulated screw internal fixation with the assistance of 3D printing insertion template, which can be a good alternative for the treatment of unstable pelvic fractures.
Objective To explore feasibility and effectiveness of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in precise hepatectomy. Methods The patient was a 60-year-old woman with diagnosis of liver malignancy. The liver model was reconstructed using the IQQA Liver System (EDDA Technology, Inc. USA) based on the CT scan data. The volumes of the liver and the lesion were measured and recorded. The CT data were further digitally reconstructed by means of cloud computing and storage with RevoCloud (V1.0) Medical Imaging System. The best surgical plan was determined by the repeated virtual surgical resection with the reconstruction system, based on the corresponding resected liver volume and the remaining liver volume. Results The reconstruction of liver clearly showed that the tumor invaded the right hepatic and middle hepatic veins, as well as the anterior branch of right portal vein, which was consistent with the conclusion of CT scan. In the other hand, the right posterior branch of the portal vein was completely distributed in the segment Ⅴ and Ⅵ, while a relatively large right posterior inferior vena presented and drained segment Ⅴ and Ⅵ. The anatomic resection of segment Ⅶ, Ⅷ , and Ⅳa was completed according to the preoperative plan. The liver function kept recovering, and the patient discharged a week later. Conclusion Results of this patient show that 3D printing technology can accurately assess anatomic construction of liver and determine relationship between lesion and its surrounding tissue, which can be effectively used in precise hepatectomy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term effectiveness of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) assisted by three-dimensional (3D) printing osteotomy navigation template.MethodsA retrospective study was performed on 60 patients with osteoarthritis bewteen January 2016 and June 2017. Thirty cases underwent TKA assisted by 3D printing osteotomy navigation template (3D printing group) and 30 cases underwent the conventional TKA (conventional TKA group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, surgical side, and disease duration between 2 groups (P>0.05). The operation time, the pre- and post-operative hemoglobin values, the amount of drainage, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score and Knee Society Score (KSS) of knee joint before operation and at 3 months after operation were observed. And 6 freedom degrees of knee (the varus and valgus angle, the internal and external rotation angle, the antero-posterior displacement, the proximal-distal displacement, the flexion and extension angle, and the internal and external displacement) before operation and at 3 months after operation were recorded by Opti-Knee (the knee 3D motion analysis system). The values of 2 groups were compared with 30 healthy adults (<60 years).ResultsThe operation time was shorter in 3D printing group than that in conventional TKA group (t=5.833, P=0.000). The hemoglobin values at 1 and 3 days after operation were higher in 3D printing group than those in conventional TKA group (P<0.05). The amount of drainage was less in 3D printing group than that in conventional TKA group (t=5.468, P=0.000). All patients were followed up 6-9 months (mean, 7.3 months). There was no significant difference in pre- and post-operative HSS score and KSS clinical score between 2 groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in preoperative KSS function score between 2 groups (P>0.05), but the KSS function score of 3D printing group at 3 months after operation was higher than that of conventional TKA group (P<0.05). Before operation, the varus and valgus angle, the internal and external rotation angle, the antero-posterior displacement, the proximal-distal displacement of 3D printing group and conventional TKA group were larger than that of the healthy adults (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the flexion and extension angle and the internal and external displacement between 2 groups and healthy adults (P>0.05). At 3 months after operation, compared with healthy adults, the varus and valgus angle of conventional TKA group was increased, the flexion and extension angle of conventional TKA group was decreased (P<0.05); the proximal-distal displacement and the internal and external displacement of 2 groups were decreased (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in other freedom degrees between groups (P>0.05). No sign of prosthesis loosening was observed by X-ray examination.ConclusionCompared with the traditional TKA, TKA assisted by the 3D printing osteotomy navigation template had such advantages as shorter operation time, less postoperative blood loss, and well postoperative recovery.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness and advantage of three-dimensional (3D) printed navigation templates assisted Ludloff osteotomy in treatment of moderate and severe hallux valgus.MethodsBetween April 2013 and February 2015, 28 patients (28 feet) with moderate and severe hallux valgus who underwent Ludloff osteotomy were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=14). In group A, the patients were treated with Ludloff osteotomy assissted with a 3D printed navigation template. In group B, the patients were treated with traditional Ludloff osteotomy. There was no significant difference in gender, age, affected side, and clinical classification between 2 groups (P>0.05). The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The ankle function of the foot at preoperation, immediate after operation, and last follow-up were assessed by the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Besides, the X-ray film were taken to assess the hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and the first metatarsal length shortening.ResultsAll patients were followed up 18-40 months (mean, 26.4 months). The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in group A were significantly less than those in group B (P<0.05). The HVA, IMA, and AOFAS scores in groups A and B at immediate after operaton and last follow-up were sinificantly improved when compared with preoperative values (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between at immediate after operation and at last follow-up (P>0.05). No significant difference was found in HVA and IMA between group A and group B at difference time points (P>0.05). There were significant differences in AOFAS score and the first metatarsal length shortening at immediate after operation and at last follow-up between 2 groups (P<0.05). Except 1 case of metastatic metatarsalgia in group B, there was no other operative complications in both groups.Conclusion3D printed navigation template assisted Ludloff osteotomy can provide accurate preoperative planning and intraoperative osteotomy. It is an ideal method for moderate and severe hallux valgus.
Bone tumor surgery involves tumor resection and subsequent reconstruction. With the development of surgical technique and new material, there is a great step toward bone and joint reconstruction in bone tumor surgery. Generally speaking, there are two major reconstructive methods including bio-reconstruction and mechanical reconstruction. In addition, three-dimensional printed prosthesis has been widely applied in the field of bone tumor surgery. The short-term result is encouraged; however, long-term results and related complications are seldom reported.