Background: This article presents an application of the use of a personalized three-dimensional (3D)-printed reverse shoulder prosthesis to be used in a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) for a patient with tuberculosis of the shoulder joint. Background: Patient concerns: A 37-year-old female, who suffered a trauma on her left shoulder 17 years ago, reported significant worsening pain and limited physical activity within the last 6 months. The left shoulder joint activity was clearly restricted. Diagnosis: Her clinical manifestations, bone changes in shoulder joint, and imaging results were all consistent with extended exposure to tuberculosis of the shoulder joint. Interventions: For this patient, a personalized 3D-printed titanium alloy shoulder joint prosthesis was used in the RTSA. The patient’s stability was regularly monitored and followed up after operation. During pre-operation, post-operation, and follow-up, the scores of ASES, Neer Shoulder score, and Constant-Murley Shoulder were evaluated. Results: 3D shoulder prosthesis was successfully implanted into the patient and complete anatomic reconstruction was performed intraoperatively. ASES, Neer, and Constant-Murley scores were gradually improved on follow-up. The X-ray image showed good bone healing and no changes in the position of the prosthesis seven and a half years post-operation. The functionality of the shoulder joint was well restored and no restrictions were found in activities of daily living. Conclusion: Personalized 3D-printed shoulder joint prosthesis is very effective in the treatment of advanced tuberculosis of the shoulder joint. 3D-printed technology may be a novel and efficient method for similar arthroplasties and severe bone defects.

We aimed to explore the effects of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on osteogenic differentiation via analyzing miR-3148 expression in patients with osteoporosis. Realtime quantitative PCR was conducted for assessing microRNA-3148 expression. BMSCs from SD rats were transfected with microRNA-3148 mimics and microRNA-3148 inhibitor via liposomal trans-fection method utilizing Lipo2000, followed by analysis of microRNA-3148 level. After 10-days of osteogenic differentiation induction, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red (ARS) staining were done to investigate the osteogenic differentiation potential. Simultaneously, qRT-PCR measured the expression of osteogenesis marker genes (BMP and Runx2) in each group. qRT-PCR analysis revealed a high expression of miR-3148 in the bone tissue and the serum samples from patients with osteoporosis in comparison with healthy individuals. In addition, miRNA-3148 mimics could retard the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, while microRNA-3148 inhibitor could prompt the procedure. MicroRNA-3148 was highly expressed in the skeletal tissues and the serum samples from patients with osteoporosis and it could restrain the differentiation of BMSCs into osteoblasts, suggesting that it might be a novel therapeutic target for treating osteoporosis.