Application of 3D printing technique in the surgical treatment of complex scapular fractures
10.3760/cma.j.cn115530-20240718-00301
- VernacularTitle:3D打印技术在手术治疗复杂肩胛骨骨折中的应用
- Author:
Guobin WANG
1
;
Zhao LI
;
Mingming WANG
;
Bin ZHANG
Author Information
1. 山东省滨州市人民医院创伤外科，滨州 256600
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Shoulder joint;
Scapula;
Fracture fixation, internal;
3D printing technique
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma
2025;27(2):163-168
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the application of 3D printing technique in the surgical treatment of complex scapular fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 22 patients with scapular fracture who had been admitted to Department of Trauma Surgery, The People's Hospital of Binzhou from June 2019 to August 2023. There were 15 males and 7 females, with a mean age of 44.3 (20.5, 69.0) years. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether 3D printing technique was used preoperatively. In the 3D printing group of 11 cases, surgery was designed and performed according to the preoperative plan using 3D-printed models, while in the conventional group of 11 cases, conventional open reduction and internal fixation was performed. The surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, times of intraoperative C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy, postoperative 24-hour visual analog scale (VAS), hospital stay, time to start weight bearing, postoperative 12-week Hardegger shoulder function score, and incidence of postoperative complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results:Comparisons of preoperative general data between the 2 groups showed no statistically significant differences, indicating comparability ( P > 0.05). All patients were followed up for (12.5±4.5) months postoperatively. The 3D printing group had shorter surgical time, less intraoperative blood loss, fewer times of intraoperative fluoroscopy, lower postoperative 24-hour VAS, shorter hospital stay, and earlier time to start weight bearing [(118.3±16.5) min, (182.8±37.0) mL, (3.1±0.7) times, (4.1±1.1) points, (12.9±2.9) days, and (7.5±1.4) weeks] than the conventional group [(185.5±46.4) min, (337.3±49.1) mL, (6.4±1.4) times, (6.3±1.0) points, (19.9±4.5) days, and (11.4±2.8) weeks], with all differences being statistically significant ( P < 0.05). At 12 weeks postoperatively, the number of patients with good Hardegger shoulder function score in the 3D printing group was significantly higher than that in the conventional group ( P < 0.05). No postoperative complications occurred in either group. Conclusion:In the surgery for complex scapular fractures, application of 3D printing technique for preoperative planning can reduce surgical trauma, lower the difficulty and risk of surgery, and accelerate functional recovery of the shoulder joint.
