The presence of 3D printing in orthopedics: A clinical and material review

Abstract

The field of additive manufacturing, 3D printing (3DP), has experienced an exponential growth over the past four decades, in part due to increased accessibility.Developments including computer-aided design and manufacturing, incorporation of more versatile materials, and improved printing techniques/equipment have stimulated growth of 3DP technologies within various industries, but most specifically the medical field. Alternatives to metals including ceramics and polymers have been garnering popularity due to their resorbable properties and physiologic similarity to extracellular matrix. 3DP has the capacity to utilize an assortment of materials and printing techniques for a multitude of indications, each with their own associated benefits. Within the field of medicine, advances in medical imaging have facilitated the integration of 3DP. In particular, the field of orthopedics has been one of the earliest medical specialties to implement 3DP. Current indications include education for patients, providers, and trainees, in addition to surgical planning. Moreover, further possibilities within orthopedic surgery continue to be explored, including the development of patient-specific implants. This review aims to highlight the use of current 3DP technology and materials by the orthopedic community, and includes comments on current trends and future direction(s) within the field.

Direct inkjet writing of polylactic acid/β‐tricalcium phosphate composites for bone tissue regeneration: A proof‐of‐concept study

“…Alloplasts have been extensively studied for bone tissue regeneration to effectively mimic the strength, bioactivity, morphology, and loadbearing capacity of native bone. 1,2 Different classes of alloplastic materials, specifically, polymer-based grafts have been utilized due to their availability and low cost. 3 More importantly, they provide a physiological environment that supports osteogenesis, and in certain scenarios, are (bio)resorbable.…”

“…In particular, 3D printing has gained prominence in the medical industry and has facilitated patient‐specific treatment plans through the use of customized grafts and implants 2 . 3D printing of materials that exhibit shape memory effect would not only involve sequential deposition (onto a suitable substrate) but also the addition of a temporal dimension to 3D‐printed structures through a stimulus—to trigger transformative responses in the construct 12 .…”

Design challenges in leveraging binder jetting technology to innovate the medical instrument field

“…In specific medical fields, such as cranio-and maxillofacial surgery, 3D printing has already become an integral part of the digital treatment received by the patient (Murtezani et al, 2022). In such a broad context, the field of orthopaedic surgery stands out for being one of the early adopters of 3D printing technologies within the medical community (Rodriguez Colon et al, 2023), where applications include, among others, the development of patient-specific implants and surgical guides, where subtractive technologies make the development of personalised solutions economically unsustainable (Rodriguez Colon et al, 2023). These guides are designed to assist the surgeon in tasks such as implant positioning, especially in cases where an altered anatomical situation must be managed, thus improving the implant's placement (Rodriguez Colon et al, 2023).…”

“…In such a broad context, the field of orthopaedic surgery stands out for being one of the early adopters of 3D printing technologies within the medical community (Rodriguez Colon et al, 2023), where applications include, among others, the development of patient-specific implants and surgical guides, where subtractive technologies make the development of personalised solutions economically unsustainable (Rodriguez Colon et al, 2023). These guides are designed to assist the surgeon in tasks such as implant positioning, especially in cases where an altered anatomical situation must be managed, thus improving the implant's placement (Rodriguez Colon et al, 2023). Therefore, together with implants, the fabrication of 3D-printed medical instruments is also a relevant application field for Additive Manufacturing (AM), especially when unconventional solutions are needed, for example, in the case of minimally invasive surgical procedures or specific diseases (Culmone et al, 2019).…”

Three-Dimensional Printed Knee Implants: Insights into Surgeons’ Points of View

“…), customized implants, drugs, and biocompatible tissues [ 2 , 5 ]. This is the result of improved machine accessibility and easy-to-use software [ 6 ]. Among the medical fields using 3DP, joint surgery is the most studied (45.18% of the studies), followed by maxillofacial (24.12%), cranial (12.72%), and spinal (7.46%) surgeries.…”