Design of a Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Splint for Surgical Correction of Pectus Excavatum in a Kitten

Pectus excavatum is a rare congenital deformation of the chest wall. Associated clinical signs depend on the severity of the deformity of the sternum and costochondral cartilages. After thoracic radiographic studies, a patient-specific plastic external splint was designed based on a previously made plaster cast of the chest of the kitten. The splint was designed using 3D scan equipment and data processing to obtain the computer-aided model that was then used to manufacture the splint using 3D printing technology. The surgical application of the customized 3D-printed external splint for the correction of severe pectus excavatum in the young kitten was successful, with excellent tolerance observed postoperatively. After a period of 2 weeks, the splint was removed. Marked improvement of the sternum position was observed, and, more importantly, improvement in dyspnea and exercise intolerance was evident.