A customized percutaneous three-dimensional-printed guide for scaphoid fixation versus a freehand technique: a comparative study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy and reliability of percutaneous fixation of minimally displaced scaphoid fractures using a customized three-dimensional (3-D)-printed guide with a conventional freehand method. A prospective cohort of ten patients underwent scaphoid fixation with the aid of a customized 3-D-printed guide. The final screw position, total surgery time (minutes) and fluoroscopy time (seconds) was compared with a retrospective cohort of ten patients who underwent fixation with a conventional technique. There were no differences in final screw position between both methods. The patients in which the 3-D guide was used had a surgery time reduction of 43% and a fluoroscopy time reduction of 52% compared with the control freehand group. The use of a customized 3-D-printed guide permits a fixation that is as accurate as the standard freehand technique, with reduction in surgical time and intraoperative radiation exposure. Level of evidence: III

Three-dimensional-printed patient-specific instrumentation is an accurate tool to reproduce femoral bone tunnels in multiple-ligament knee injuries

“…No studies have been published using this technology to perform complex knee ligament reconstructions. In recent years, PSI has been successfully applied to different areas in orthopaedics and trauma to improve the accuracy of different procedures, such as total knee replacement (TKR) [30,31], upper extremity fractures [32,33], or some other procedures showing similar results [34][35][36]. Differences of approximately 5° in the tunnel angle deviation from planning do not have a relevant surgical repercussion when performing bone tunnels.…”

Insights and trends review: the role of three-dimensional technology in upper extremity surgery

“…A comparison of eight patients with scaphoid nonunion using custom splints, to eight patients treated by standard bone grafting and fixation showed that the 3-D group had shorter operating times and no difference in outcome measures at 6 months (Yin et al, 2020). Marcano-Fernandez et al (2021) also demonstrated a reduction of surgery time by 43% and fluoroscopy time by 52% when using a 3-D printed guide as compared with a control freehand group.…”

Wrist & Hand

“…A team from Barcelona (Spain) sought to determine whether 3D printing of the guide would facilitate the placement of a percutaneous screw across the scaphoid for minimally displaced scaphoid waist fractures. 1 They retrospectively selected ten consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous scaphoid fixation up to March 2018, who formed the control group, as their guidewire and subsequent screw had been placed freehand. Subsequent patients were prospectively offered surgery using a 3D-printed guide, forming the intervention group of ten patients.…”