The Role of 3D Printing in Pediatric Surgical Care: A Narrative Review

3D printing is rapidly expanding in surgery, with particular promise in pediatric surgery because of its ability to create customized objects tailored to individual needs. This study provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the main applications of 3D printing across pediatric surgical subspecialties. The review was conducted using the PubMed database. The search identified 207 articles, of which 96 were included after applying exclusion criteria. The most represented fields were orthopedics (n = 31) and head and neck surgery (n = 26). Reported applications of 3D printing included direct clinical use (n = 41), educational purposes (n = 28), surgical planning (n = 24), and assessment of model accuracy (n = 3). The key advantages of 3D printing include the production of anatomical models, both normal and pathological, for simulation, student education, surgical planning, and improved communication with families. Limitations include concerns about the realism of the models, cost, and difficulty in demonstrating clear clinical benefits. Comparative studies will be needed to objectively establish the value of 3D printing in pediatric surgery.