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BackgroundCT scanning with 3D reconstructed images are currently used to study articular fractures in orthopedic and trauma surgery. A 3D-Printer creates solid objects, starting from a 3D Computer representation.Case DescriptionWe report from two year of multicenter experience in 3D printing of articular fractures.Discussion and EvaluationDuring the study period, 102 patients (distal radius fractures, radial head, tibial plateau, astragalus, calcaneus, ankle, humeral head and glenoid) underwent 3D printing. The medical models were used by surgeons to appreciate the dislocation of fragments and the yielding of the articular surface. In addition, models were showed to patient as part of the acquisition of the informed consent before surgery.Conclusions3D printing of articular fractures are innovative procedures that achieve a preoperative tangible, highly useful evaluation of the fractures to plan intervention and educate patients.

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The broad availability of cheap three-dimensional (3D) printing equipment has raised the need for a thorough analysis on its effects on clinical accuracy. Our aim is to determine whether the accuracy of 3D printing process is affected by the use of a low-budget workflow based on open source software and consumer's commercially available 3D printers. A group of test objects was scanned with a 64-slice computed tomography (CT) in order to build their 3D copies. CT datasets were elaborated using a software chain based on three free and open source software. Objects were printed out with a commercially available 3D printer. Both the 3D copies and the test objects were measured using a digital professional caliper. Overall, the objects' mean absolute difference between test objects and 3D copies is 0.23 mm and the mean relative difference amounts to 0.55 %. Our results demonstrate that the accuracy of 3D printing process remains high despite the use of a low-budget workflow.

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We would like to present our first experiences with the use of an innovative system to control the imaging in the operation room, the Leap Motion gesture control and OsiriX. Touch-free systems are useful where the contact between the surgeon and computer is disadvantageous; in the operating room a touch-less system is an ideal solution.These solutions reduce surgery time, minimize the risk of infections (in some hospitals, PC monitors are located on the wall and the surgeon must leave the operating table to go there).During surgery, changing gloves each time the computer system has to be operated interrupts the workflow and can result in longer surgery times with higher risk for the patient and higher costs. A Swiss group presented a good prototype: they use Orisix and Microsoft Kinect to perform the touch-free control in the operation room and during autopsy.

Information technology-based innovation is playing an increasingly key role in healthcare systems. The use of three-dimensional (3D)-printed bone fracture replicas in orthopaedic clinical practice could provide a new tool for fracture simulations and treatment, and change the interaction between patient and surgeon. We investigated the additional value of 3D-printing in the preparation and execution of surgical procedures and communication with patients, as well as its teaching and economic implications. Methods: Fifty-two patients with complex articular displaced fractures of the calcaneus, tibial plateau, or distal radius were enrolled. 3D-printed real-size models of the fractured bone were obtained from computed tomography scans and exported to files suitable for 3D-printing. The models were handled by trauma surgeons, residents, and patients to investigate the potential advantages and procedural improvements. The patients' and surgeons' findings were recorded using specific questionnaires. Results: 3D-printed replicas of articular fractures facilitated surgical planning and preoperative simulations, as well as training and teaching activities. They also strengthening the informed consent process and reduced surgical times and costs by about 15%. Conclusion: 3D-printed models of bone fractures represent a significant step towards morepersonalized medicine, with improved education and surgeon-patient relationships.