The use of 3D printing technology in limb reconstruction. Inspirations and challenges

Efthymios Iliopoulos; Konstantinos Makiev; Paraskevas Georgoulas; Nick Vordos; Athanasios Ververidis; Konstantinos Tilkeridis

doi:10.1016/j.tcr.2023.100848

The use of 3D printing technology in limb reconstruction. Inspirations and challenges

Trauma Case Rep. 2023 May 16:46:100848. doi: 10.1016/j.tcr.2023.100848. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Efthymios Iliopoulos¹, Konstantinos Makiev¹, Paraskevas Georgoulas¹, Nick Vordos², Athanasios Ververidis¹, Konstantinos Tilkeridis¹

Affiliations

¹ Trauma and Orthopaedics Department, Alexandroupolis University Hospital, University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
² Biophysics Laboratory, Physics Department, International Hellenic University, Kavala, Greece.

Abstract

The management of septic non-unions with associated bone necrosis is challenging, especially when the resulting bone defect after the debridement is extensile. Different techniques have been described in the literature for the treatment of these demanding cases, with the most prominent being free vascularized Fibular graft and bone transport with distraction osteogenesis principles. Recently, 3D printing technology has been increasingly utilized in many complex orthopaedic pathologies. However, the application of those advancements regarding septic non-unions with residual bone defect has not been previously studied. This study presents a novel 3D printing technique for the management of an infected critical bone deficit of the tibia. Queries, challenges and future perspectives concerning the recruiting of 3D printing technology in limb reconstruction are also being discussed. Clinical Evidence Level: IV.

Keywords: Ankle arthrodesis; Bone transport; Septic non-union; Three dimension printing.

Publication types

Case Reports