3D printing-assisted surgery for proximal humerus fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) printing to conventional surgeries in proximal humerus fractures (PHFs).

Methods: Eight databases were comprehensively searched for data on clinical characteristics and outcomes, including operation time, time to bone healing, blood loss volume, number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, the reduction rate of anatomic proximal humeri, Constant scores, Neer rating, loss of humeral head height, and complications. These data were compared between 3D printing-assisted versus conventional surgeries to learn the efficacy of 3D printing-assisted surgery.

Results: 3D printing-assisted surgery outperformed conventional procedures in operation time, blood loss volume, time to the union of PHFs, number of fluoroscopies, the reduction rate of anatomic proximal humeri, Constant scores, Neer rating, and complications.

Conclusion: 3D printing-assisted surgery improves operation time, anatomic healing, pain, and motion, with less harm to patients.

Keywords: 3D; Meta-analysis; Proximal humeral fractures; Three-dimensional printing.