The Application Value of Personalized 3D Printed Navigation Molds in Neurosurgery

Many neurosurgical procedures are expensive and technically demanding. The incidence of complications is high. Based on the advantages of three-dimensional (3D) technology in surgical procedures, it is necessary to develop personalized navigation molds that use 3D printing technology and to analyze the clinical application of this technology in intracerebral hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, and brain abscess.According to the patient-specific brain computed tomography imaging data, we reconstructed intracranial lesions or target structures and important brain regions. By this, neurosurgeons can accurately locate the intracranial lesions under conditions equivalent to direct vision, analyze the morphology and size of lesions, and perform precise lesion puncture. Based on patient-specific differences, we designed the best 3D printed navigation molds to improve the accuracy of intracranial lesion targeting, analyzed the sources of deviation, and provided clinical application basis.Five cases of intracerebral hematoma, two cases of hydrocephalus, and two cases of brain abscess were treated between September 2020 to January 2022. Lesion puncture and drainage were performed with 3D printed navigation molds. The average puncture error was 2.86 mm. All nine patients recovered well after surgery, and no infection or death occurred.The personalized 3D printed navigation molds used in this study are beneficial to accurately locate intracranial lesions or target 3D structures during surgery.