From Data to Design: Constructing Scapula and Hip Bone Through Online Datasets, Open-Source Software and 3D Printers

Abstract

Introduction Human skeletons and bones are essential for medical and allied sciences students. Nowadays, it is becoming challenging to procure bone legally, resulting in medical students' inadequacy of bone. Plaster-of-Paris or resin bone models sold on the market are less detailed than real bones. Aims and objectives This study aims to create a three-dimensional (3D)-printed human bone model with free, open-source software and fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printers, compare its accuracy with the original bones and validate it with a textbook description. Methods Scapula and hip bone models were produced using open-source software 3D Slicer from computed tomography (CT) data from the “New Mexico Decedent Image Database”. After automated segmentation, bones were edited manually with tools in a 3D Slicer ( https://www.slicer.org /) and Meshmixer software (Autodesk Inc., San Rafael, California, United States) and 3D bone models were printed using polylactic (PLA) filament. Results and discussions 3D digital models of both bones were successfully created with the maximum possible accuracy with an FDM 3D printer. A 3D digital replica of the scapula obtained after segmentation retained most anatomical features except for the glenoid cavity, as the head of the humerus obscured the glenoid cavity. The 3D digital skeleton of the hip bone retained all anatomical features except articulating surfaces, such as the acetabulum and auricular surface ilium, which were obscured by the head of the femur and sacrum. A few morphological features of both bones differed from the original dry bone, and a few finer details were unclear in the iliac fossa and ischium. After manual editing and post-processing, the final physical model obtained has all the features. Conclusions We conclude that it is possible to produce anatomically accurate models with the greatest possible resemblance and accuracy to the original bones using free and open-source data with an FDM 3D printer.