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Partial sacrectomy with patient-specific osteotomy guides
Mazda Farshad1, Farah Selman1, Marco D Burkhard1
1University Spine Center Zürich, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland.
Background:
Chordomas are rare, locally aggressive, malignant tumors. Surgical resection with sufficient margins defines the outcome. However, the necessity for wide margins often leads to sacrifice of important neurological structures. 3D-printed osteotomy guides are a promising solution for precise execution of surgical resection. We present probably the first sacrococcygeal chordoma resection with 3D-printed guides.
Methods:
The case of a 49-year-old woman with a sacrococcygeal chordoma, resected with help of 3-D pre-operative planning and patient-specific 3D-printed osteotomy guides, is reported in detail.
Results:
A sufficient tumor excision could be performed successfully while sparing nerve root S4. The planed margin has been exactly maintained, as confirmed by histology. The patient demonstrated an excellent clinical outcome with no evidence of local recurrence.
Conclusions:
3-D pre-operative planning and patient-specific osteotomy guides can be used for planning and performing en-bloc surgical resection of sacral chordomas.
Insights
This study introduces 3D-printed guides for precise sacrococcygeal chordoma resection, a rare cancer. This innovative technique enabled successful tumor removal while preserving critical nerves, showing excellent patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Innovation
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Chordomas are rare, aggressive tumors requiring wide surgical margins.
- Achieving wide margins often risks neurological structures.
- 3D-printed osteotomy guides offer enhanced precision in surgical resection.

