Evaluation of 3D printing costs in surgery: a systematic review

Abstract

Objectives The use of three-dimensional (3D) printing in surgery is expanding and there is a focus on comprehensively evaluating the clinical impact of this technology. However, although additional costs are one of the main limitations to its use, little is known about its economic impact. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify the costs associated with its use and highlight the first quantitative data available. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted in the PubMed and Embase databases and in the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) at the University of York. Studies that reported an assessment of the costs associated with the use of 3D printing for surgical application and published between 2009 and 2019, in English or French, were included. Results Nine studies were included in our review. Nine types of costs were identified, the three main ones being printing material costs (n = 6), staff costs (n = 3), and operating room costs (n = 3). The printing cost ranged from less than U.S. dollars (USD) 1 to USD 146 (in USD 2019 values) depending on the criteria used to calculate this cost. Three studies evaluated the potential savings generated by the use of 3D printing technology in surgery, based on operating time reduction. Conclusion This literature review highlights the lack of reliable economic data on 3D printing technology. Nevertheless, this review makes it possible to identify expenditures or items that should be considered in order to carry out more robust studies.

Virtual surgical planning of inferior alveolar nerve microsurgery and benign pathology of the mandible: case reports

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“…Additionally, minimizing surgical time in this manner can lead to improvement in patient's post-operative course and outcomes (1)(2)(3). Guided surgery can reduce surgical time and therefore time under general anesthesia and in the operating room and potentially overall surgical costs (1,(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Most importantly, custom surgical guides can play a crucial role in a procedure that involves vital structures and preservation of these structures may dictate surgical success (1,7).…”

Application of 3D printing in the treatment of appendicular skeleton fractures: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…A recent systematic review has been published on the costs of 3D printing in surgery highlighting the lack of reliable data to establish firm conclusions. 30 There is also a high heterogeneity on the cost of personnel and 3D printing devices by country.…”

Commentary: Accessing 3D Printed Vascular Phantoms for Procedural Simulation

“…3D printed models can be embedded into the curriculum of medical education within preclinical years (often the first-half of medical school years), which can allow for better anatomic visualization. Moreover, the literature on the effects of 3D visualization programs in student curriculum has shown promise in potentially improving memory recall of anatomy and spatial understanding (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). However, the concerns regarding cost of implementation may serve as a potential barrier towards widespread implementation in medical student curriculum (23)(24)(25).…”

“…Moreover, the literature on the effects of 3D visualization programs in student curriculum has shown promise in potentially improving memory recall of anatomy and spatial understanding (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). However, the concerns regarding cost of implementation may serve as a potential barrier towards widespread implementation in medical student curriculum (23)(24)(25). This provides a further direction for future studies to investigate the cost-benefit analysis of implementing such a curriculum design.…”