A Review of Current Clinical Applications of Three-Dimensional Printing in Spine Surgery
10.4184/asj.2018.12.1.171
- Author:
Woojin CHO
1
;
Alan Varkey JOB
;
Jing CHEN
;
Jung Hwan BAEK
Author Information
1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA. wcho@montefiore.org
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Three-demensional printing;
Spine;
Guidance;
Templates;
Implants
- MeSH:
Education;
Humans;
Models, Anatomic;
Printing, Three-Dimensional;
Regenerative Medicine;
Spine;
Tissue Engineering
- From:Asian Spine Journal
2018;12(1):171-177
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a transformative technology with a potentially wide range of applications in the field of orthopaedic spine surgery. This article aims to review the current applications, limitations, and future developments of 3D printing technology in orthopaedic spine surgery. Current preoperative applications of 3D printing include construction of complex 3D anatomic models for improved visual understanding, preoperative surgical planning, and surgical simulations for resident education. Intraoperatively, 3D printers have been successfully used in surgical guidance systems and in the creation of patient specific implantable devices. Furthermore, 3D printing is revolutionizing the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, allowing construction of biocompatible scaffolds suitable for cell growth and vasculature. Advances in printing technology and evidence of positive clinical outcomes are needed before there is an expansion of 3D printing applied to the clinical setting.
