Treatment of Die-Punch Fractures with 3D Printing Technology

ABSTRACT

Purpose: We evaluated the feasibility, accuracy and effectiveness of applying three-dimensional (3D) printing technology for preoperative planning for die-punch fractures. Methods: A total of 107 patients who underwent die-punch fracture surgery were enrolled in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups: 52 cases in the 3D model group and 55 cases in the routine group. A 3D digital model of each die-punch fracture was reconstructed in the 3D group. The 3D digital model was imported to a 3D printer to build the full solid model. The operation time, blood loss volume, and the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy were recorded. Follow-up was performed to evaluate the patients' surgical outcomes. Results: Treatment of die-punch fractures using the 3D printing approach reduced the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy, blood loss volume, and operation time, but did not improve wrist function compared to those in the routine group. The patients wanted the doctor to use the 3D model to introduce the condition and operative plan because it was easier for them to understand. The orthopedic surgeons thought that the 3D model was useful for communicating with their patients, but their satisfaction with the preoperative plan was much lower than the benefit of using the 3D model to communicate with their patients. Conclusions: 3D printing technology produced more accurate morphometric information for orthopedists to provide personalized surgical planning and communicate better with their patients. However, it is difficult to use widely in the department of orthopedics.

Keywords::

• 3D printing
• die-punch fractures
• orthopedics
• surgery
• distal radius
• fractures

Declaration of interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank all the staff in the University.

FUNDING

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81472146), The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.