Three Dimensional Printing: An Introduction for Orthopedic Surgeons.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Medical Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Three dimensional (3D) printing has evolved from a laboratory tool to an accessible technology.
• It offers a cost-effective clinical application in orthopedics.
• Anatomic models from standard imaging can improve surgical planning and patient education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the underlying technology of 3D printing for orthopedic surgeons.
• To provide guidance on implementing 3D printing for patient-specific applications.
• To highlight the benefits of 3D printing in orthopedics for teaching, education, planning, and research.

Main Methods:

• Review of current 3D printing technologies relevant to orthopedics.
• Discussion of practical steps for surgeons to adopt 3D printing.
• Explanation of data acquisition from standard medical imaging for model creation.

Main Results:

• 3D printing is a feasible and affordable tool for orthopedic applications.
• Surgeons can create patient-specific anatomic models from imaging data.
• These models enhance surgical planning, patient education, and teaching.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing technology is readily available for orthopedic surgeons.
• Implementing 3D printing can significantly benefit surgical practice and medical education.
• This review empowers surgeons to utilize 3D printing for improved patient care and research.