Congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease which results in congnital airway lesion. CTS is often associated with cardiovascular anomalies and presented with a wide spectrum of symptoms. CTS has challenged pediatric surgeons for decades. Various classic approaches and new techniques, including computational fluid dynamics, tissue-engineering trachea, and 3D printing have been proposed for diagnosis and treatment of CTS. This review provides a snapshot of the main progress of diagnosis and treatment of CTS.
ObjectiveTo explore clinical value of 3D printing technology in hepatic resection. MethodsFrom March to May 2015, multidetector-row computed tomography images of 12 patients, including hepatic carcinoma in 6, hepatic hemangioma in 3, intra-and extra-hepatic bile duct stones in 3, were used for 3D hepatic reconstruction, the final segmentation data were converted to stereolithography files for 3D printing, 50%-70% scale of the full-sized liver model was fabricated by polylactic acid to be used to analyze its anatomical structure, design surgical planning, select the optimal operative route and simulate hepatic resection. Hepatic resection was performed by referring to the 3D printing model. ResultsThe hepatic resections were successful without complications by referring to the preoperative 3D printing models, the average blood loss was 340(100-1000) mL. ConclusionHepatic resection is more accurate and safe by 3D printing technology.
Objective To assess the application value of 3-dimensional(3D) printing technology in surgical treatment for congenital tracheal stenosis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of preoperative diagnosis, intra-operative decision-making and postoperative follow-up of four children with congenital tracheal stenosis under the guidance of 3D printing in our hospital between February 2013 and May 2014. There were 3 males and 1 female aged 23.0±7.1 months. Among them, two children were with pulmonary artery sling, one with ventricular septal defect, and the other one with tetralogy of Fallot. The airway stenosis was diagnosed preoperatively by chest CT scan and 3D printing tracheal models, and was confirmed by the help of bronchoscopy under anesthesia. During operation the associated cardiac malformation was corrected firstly under extracorporeal circulation followed by tracheal malformation remedy. The design and implementation of tracheal operation plans were guided by the shape and data from 3D printing trachea models. There were two patients with long segment of tracheal stenosis who received slide anastomosis. And the other two patients were characterized with tracheal bronchus, one of which combined ostial stenosis of right bronchial performed extensive slide anastomosis, and the other one performed end to end anastomosis. Results All the children’s preoperative 3D printing trachea models were in accord with bronchoscopy and intra-operative exploration results. Intra-operative bronchoscopy confirmed that all tracheal stenosis cured completely. All anastomotic stomas were of integrity, and all the luminals were fluent. There was no operative death or no serious complication. During 1-2 years follow-up, all patients breathed smoothly and their airways were of patency by postoperative 3D printing trachea model. Conclusion 3D printing can provide a good help to congenital tracheal stenosis in preoperative diagnosis, the design of operation plan, intra-operative decision-making and manipulation, which can improve the operation successful rate of tracheal stenosis.
Because of the characteristics such as accurate, efficient and individuation, 3D printing is being widely applied to manufacturing industry, and being gradually expanded into the medical field. Diseases of chest wall is a common type in thoracic surgery, and surgery is a proper treatment to this kind of disease. For the past few years, 3D printing is being gradually applied in surgery of chest wall diseases. The article mainly makes a statement of two parts that including the possibility to apply 3D printing including chest wall reconstruction and chest wall orthopedic, and to analyze the possibility and application prospect of applying 3D printing to the chest wall disease.
Objective To evaluate the application of three-dimensional printing technique in surgical treatments on complex congenital heart diseases. Methods Two patients were enrolled with complex congenital heart diseases. The computerized tomography data were used to build the 3D architecture of cardiac anomalies. The White-Jet-Process technique was used to print the models with 1∶1 ratio in size. The models were used to make the treatment strategy making, young surgeon training and operation simulation. Results The full color and hollowed-out cardiac models with 1∶1 ration in size were printed successfully. They were transected at the middle point of vertical axis, which was conveniently to explore the intracardiac anomalies. However, for patient 1, the model lost the atrial septal defect. Taking the two models as references, operation group held preoperative consultation, operation simulation, and finally, the operation plans were determined for the two patients. Both the two operation were carried out smoothly. Conclusion Although the limitations of 3D printing still exist in the application for congenital heart diseases, making the preoperative plan and operation simulation via 3D cardiac model could enhance the understanding of following operation and procedure details, which could improve the tacit cooperation among operation group members. Furthermore, operation results also could be improved potentially. Therefore, the cardiac 3D printing should be popularized in clinic in the future.
In recent years, 3D printing technology, as a new material processing technology, can precisely control the macroscopic and microstructure of biological scaffolds and has advantages that traditional manufacturing methods cannot match in the manufacture of complex bone repair scaffolds. Magnesium ion is one of the important trace elements of the human body. It participates in many physiological activities of the body and plays a very important role in maintaining the normal physiological function of the organism. In addition, magnesium ions also have the characteristics of promoting the secretion of osteogenic proteins by osteoblasts and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. By combining with 3D printing technology, more and more personalized magnesium-based biological scaffolds have been produced and used in bone regeneration research in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, this article reviews the application and research progress of 3D printing magnesium-based biomaterials in the field of bone regeneration and repair.
Aortic valve disease is one of the major diseases threatening human health. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a new treatment for aortic disease. Preoperative evaluation is of great significance to the successful operation and the long-term quality of life of patients. The 3D printing technology can fully simulate the cardiac anatomy of patients, create personalized molds for patients, improve surgical efficiency, reduce surgical time and surgical trauma, and thus achieve better surgical results. In this review, the relevant literatures were searched, and the evaluation effect of 3D printing technology on the operation of TAVR was reviewed, so as to provide clinical reference.
Objective To compare the effect of three-dimensional visual (3DV) model, three-dimensional printing (3DP) model and computer-aided design (CAD) modified 3DP model in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) sublobular resection. MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent VATS sublobular resection in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from November 2021 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 3 groups including a 3DV group, a 3DP group and a CAD-3DP group according to the tools used. The perioperative indexes and subjective evaluation of operators, patients and their families were compared. ResultsA total of 22 patients were included. There were 5 males and 17 females aged 32-77 (56.95±12.50) years. There were 9 patients in the 3DV group, 6 patients in the 3DP group, and 7 patients in the CAD-3DP group. There was no statistical difference in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume, hospital stay time or postoperative complications among the groups (P>0.05). Based on the subjective evaluations of 4 surgeons, the CAD-3DP group was better than the 3DV group in the preoperative planning efficiency (P=0.025), intuitiveness (P=0.045) and doctor-patient communication difficulty (P=0.034); the CAD-3DP group was also better than the 3DP group in the overall satisfaction (P=0.023), preoperative planning difficulty (P=0.046) and efficiency (P=0.014). Based on the subjective evaluations of patients and their families, the CAD-3DP group was better than the 3DP group in helping understand the vessel around the tumor (P=0.016), surgical procedure (P=0.020), procedure selection (P=0.029), and overall satisfaction (P=0.048); the CAD-3DP group was better than the 3DV group in helping understand the tumor size (P=0.038). ConclusionCAD-modified 3DP model has certain advantages in pre-planning, intraoperative navigation and doctor-patient communication in the VATS sublobectomy.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of lumbar puncture models based on 3D printing technology for training junior orthopaedic surgeons to find the optimal pedicle screw insertion points.MethodsMimics software was used to design 3D models of lumbar spine with the optimal channels and alternative channels. Then, the printed lumbar spine models, plasticine, and cloth were used to build lumbar puncture models. From January 2018 to June 2019, 43 orthopedic trainees performed simulated operations to search for the insertion points of pedicle screws base on the models. The operations were performed once a day for 10 consecutive days, and the differences in operation scores and operation durations of the trainees among the 10 days were compared.ResultsAll the trainees completed the surgical training operations successfully, and there were significant differences in the operation scores (13.05±2.45, 14.02±3.96, 17.58±3.46, 21.02±2.04, 23.40±4.08, 25.14±3.72, 27.26±6.09, 33.37±4.23, 35.00±4.15, 38.49±1.70; F=340.604, P<0.001) and operation durations [(22.51±4.28), (19.93±4.28), (18.05±2.89), (17.05±1.76), (16.98±1.97), (15.47±1.74), (13.51±1.42), (12.60±2.17), (12.44±1.71), (11.91±1.87) minutes; F=102.359, P<0.001] among the 10 days.ConclusionThe 3D models of lumbar puncture are feasible and repeatable, which can contribute to surgical training.
Objective To evaluate the deviation between actual and simulated screw placement after cervical pedicle screw placement assisted by 3D printed navigation template, and analyze the correlation between screw placement deviation and navigation pipe length. Methods A total of 40 patients undergoing cervical 1-7 pedicle screw insertion assisted by 3D printed navigation template in Zigong Fourth People’s Hospital between February 2018 and August 2020 were included in this prospective study. These patients were divided into 3 groups randomly, including 12 patients with a 5-mm pipe length (5 mm group), 13 patients with a 10-mm pipe length (10 mm group), and 15 patients with a 15-mm pipe length (15 mm group). Three-dimensional modeling was performed on preoperative cervical CT images of these patients and simulated pedicle screw was placed. Individualized pedicle screw navigation templates were designed according to the position and direction of simulated pedicle screws, and 3D printing was performed on the cervical model and navigation templates. Preoperative 3D printed model and navigation templates were used to simulate the surgical process to confirm the safety of screws. During the operation, pedicle screw placement was performed according to the preoperative design and simulated surgical process. The postoperative CT images were registered with the preoperative CT images in 3D model. The safety of screw placement was evaluated by the postoperative screw placement Grade, and the accuracy of screw placement was evaluated by measuring the deviation of screw placement point and the deviation of screw placement direction in horizontal plane (inclination angle) and sagittal plane (head inclination angle). The influence of different navigation pipe lengths on the safety and accuracy of screw placement was analyzed. Results A total of 164 pedicle screws were inserted with navigation template assistance, including 48 screws (38 in Grade 0 and 10 in Grade 1) in the 5 mm group, 52 screws in the 10 mm group (all in Grade 0), and 64 screws (52 in Grade 0 and 12 in Grade 1) in the 15 mm group, and the difference in the grade among the three groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). When the navigation pipe length was 5, 10, and 15 mm, respectively, the screw entry point deviation was (1.87±0.63), (1.44±0.63), and (1.66±0.54) mm, respectively, the inclination angle deviation was (2.72±0.25), (0.90±0.21), and (1.84±0.35)°, respectively, and the head inclination angle deviation was (8.63±1.83), (7.15±1.38), and (8.24±1.52)°, respectively. The deviations in the 10 mm group were all significantly less than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). Conclusions In the cervical pedicle screw placement assisted by navigation template, all the screws were Grade 0 or Grade 1, with high safety. The mean deviation of the screw entry point is within 2 mm, with high accuracy. When the length of navigation pipe is 10 mm, the safety and accuracy of screw placement can be fully guaranteed.