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Recent advances of 3D-printing in spine surgery
Javed Iqbal1, Zaitoon Zafar2, Georgios Skandalakis3
1Department of Neurosurgery, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Surgical Neurology International
|September 9, 2024
Summary
Three-dimensional printing (3DP) in spinal surgery offers personalized implants and better planning, but high costs and technical challenges hinder widespread adoption. Future research aims to overcome these limitations for improved patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is increasingly utilized in spinal surgery for applications like preoperative planning models, biomodels, surgical guides, implants, and educational tools.
- This technology enables personalized patient care and improved surgical strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current applications of 3DP technology in spinal surgery.
- To identify the challenges and limitations impeding the broader adoption of 3DP in this field.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review was performed.
- The review focused on examining existing studies and reports on 3DP in spinal surgery.
Main Results:
- 3DP offers benefits such as enhanced stability, improved surgical outcomes, and patient-specific solutions in spinal surgeries.
- Significant challenges include high implementation costs, technological limitations in replicating anatomical detail accurately, and a lack of robust clinical evidence and monitoring.
- Variability between medical imaging and actual surgical anatomy is a key technological hurdle.
Conclusions:
- Despite current limitations, ongoing research and development are expected to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of 3DP in spinal surgery.
- Advancements in 3DP hold the potential to revolutionize spinal surgery through personalized implants and precise planning, leading to better patient outcomes and increased surgical efficiency.
