A Novel Customized 3D Printed Arm Stand Improving Skin Preparation Efficiency in Hand Surgery

Abstract

Summary Patient preparation for hand surgery often necessitates skin preparation via the use of an assistant to hold the arm to be operated on in mid-air while disinfectant is applied. This study introduces a three-dimensional printed arm stand that decreases dead time during skin preparation, while also enabling the more efficient use of an assistant. The arm stand devices were customized on the anatomy of the patients and then successfully used on patients having general or regional anesthesia. A practical, reusable, and effective three-dimensional printed arm stand has been developed and applied on both adult and pediatric patients. We have found the bespoke device to be beneficial in terms of reducing theater dead time and overall costs, while increasing the efficiency of an upper limb operating theater list. The rapid prototyping cycle afforded by 3D printing renders this technology a valuable tool for developing medical devices with patient-precise dimensions.

Open reduction and internal fixation of metacarpal fractures using a thermoplastic splint as a surgical instrument

“…These solutions are frequently inadequate as the hand is repositioned multiple times throughout the procedure due to the natural tendency of the arm to supinate. Customized patient-precise instruments for hand surgery have been described before and are developed using additive manufacturing technology such as 3-dimensional printing, but there is no description of a device that inhibits the hand from supinating [4][5][6].…”

Interphalangeal joint deviation in floating-type radial polydactyly with malalignment of the flexor pollicis longus tendon: a case report

“…It is our vision to promote the in-house production of devices that improve efficiency, such as the production of bespoke instruments for theatre tasks. To that end, the rapidprototyping cycle of 3-D printing provides promise for how these optimizations can be achieved (Papavasiliou et al, 2020b).…”

A controlled prospective study for the use of a novel three-dimensional printed arm stand versus the current practice for skin preparation in hand surgery

“…We have previously described a three-dimensional (3-D) printed customized arm stand that is placed at the patient's elbow and lifts the limb off the operating table to assist with skin preparation (Papavasiliou et al, 2020a). In this study, we used this device and compared it with the current standard.…”

“…The device was designed and manufactured on a commercial Fusion Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3-D printer using polylactic acid (Figure 1(a)) (Papavasiliou et al, 2020a). A scale version of this design (60% overall volume) was also produced to serve as the paediatric analogue (Figures 1(b) and 2(a)).…”