Critical analysis for a safe design of 3D printed Patient-Specific Surgical Guides (PSSG) for pedicle screw insertion in spinal deformities

Shaping the Future of Cardiovascular Disease by 3D Printing Applications in Stent Technology and its Clinical Outcomes

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. In recent years, 3D printing technology has ushered in a new era of innovation in cardiovascular medicine. 3D printing in CVD management encompasses various aspects, from patient-specific models and preoperative planning to customized medical devices and novel therapeutic approaches. In-stent technology, 3D printing has revolutionized the design and fabrication of intravascular stents, offering tailored solutions for complex anatomies and individualized patient needs. The advantages of 3D-printed stents, such as improved biocompatibility, enhanced mechanical properties, and reduced risk of in-stent restenosis. Moreover, the clinical trials and case studies that shed light on the potential of 3D printing technology to improve patient outcomes and revolutionize the field has been comprehensively discussed. Furthermore, regulatory considerations, and challenges in implementing 3D-printed stents in clinical practice are also addressed, underscoring the need for standardization and quality assurance to ensure patient safety and device reliability. This review highlights a comprehensive resource for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers seeking to harness the full potential of 3D printing technology in the fight against CVD.

Accuracy of 3D printed spine models for pre-surgical planning of complex adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in spinal surgeries: a case series

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a noticeable spinal deformity in both adult and adolescent population. In majority of the cases, the gold standard of treatment is surgical intervention. Technological advancements in medical imaging and 3D printing have revolutionised the surgical planning and intraoperative decision making for surgeons in spinal surgery. However, its applicability for planning complex spinal surgeries is poorly documented with human subjects. The objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of 3D printed models for complex spinal deformities based on Cobb angles between 40° to 95°.This is a retrospective cohort study where, five CT scans of the patients with AIS were segmented and 3D printed for evaluating the accuracy. Consideration was given to the Inter-patient and acquisition apparatus variability of the CT-scan dataset to understand the effect on trueness and accuracy of the developed CAD models. The developed anatomical models were re-scanned for analysing quantitative surface deviation to assess the accuracy of 3D printed spinal models. Results show that the average of the root mean square error (RMSE) between the 3DP models and virtual models developed using CT scan of mean surface deviations for the five 3d printed models was found to be 0.5±0.07 mm. Based on the RMSE, it can be concluded that 3D printing based workflow is accurate enough to be used for presurgical planning for complex adolescent spinal deformities. Image acquisition and post processing parameters, type of 3D printing technology plays key role in acquiring required accuracy for surgical applications.

Thoracic Pedicle Screw Placement Utilizing Hands-On Training Session on Three-Dimensional Models

The utilization of three-dimensional (3D) models has been an important element of medical education. We demonstrate a three-dimensionally-printed (3DP) thoracic spine model for use in the teaching of freehand pedicle screw placement. Neurosurgical residents with varying years of experience practiced screw placement on these models. Residents were timed, and models were evaluated for medial and lateral breaches. Overall, this technical report describes the utility of 3D spine models in the training of thoracic pedicle screw placement. The tactile feedback from the 3D models was designed to represent both cortical and cancellous bones.