Abstract
BACKGROUND: Advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology have enabled the development of customized instrumentation and surgical training platforms. However, no existing studies have assessed how patient-specific 3D-printed spine models can facilitate patient education and operative planning in complex spinal deformity correction. OBJECTIVE: To present a cost-effective technique for constructing personalized 3D-printed spine models for patients with severe spinal deformities and to outline how these models can promote informed consent, trainee education, and planning for instrumentation placement and alignment correction. METHODS: We present 2 patients who underwent surgical correction of progressive thoracolumbar deformities. Full-scale 3D-printed models of each patient’s spine were produced preoperatively and used during clinic evaluations, surgical planning, and as intraoperative references. RESULTS: Each model took 9 days to build and required less than 60 US dollars of material costs. Both patients were treated with a posterior approach and contiguous multilevel osteotomies. Postoperatively, their alignment parameters and neurological deficits improved. CONCLUSION: Personalized 3D-printed spine models can aid in patient education, surgical training, visualization, and correction of complex spinal deformities.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 514-522 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Operative Neurosurgery |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 26 2022 |
Keywords
- 3D modeling
- 3D printing
- Adult deformity
- Polylactic acid
- Polyvinyl alcohol
- Scoliosis
- Surgical planning
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine