The Patient-Specific Implant Created with 3D Printing Technology in Treatment of the Irreparable Radial Head in Chronic Persistent Elbow Instability

Abstract

Successful treatment of the chronic persistent elbow instability is a challenge for orthopedic surgeons. In this form, it is important to recognize and restore the osseous stabilizer in order to obtain the concentric reduction. In the present report, we describe a case of such injury with irreparable radial head treated with patient-specific radial head prosthesis which was created with 3D printing technology. To our knowledge, this is the first report in clinical use of this kind of prosthesis for the radial head fracture. At a 24-month follow-up visit, the patient was satisfied with the functional outcomes. The Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) increased from 20 points at the preoperative day to 85 points, and the patient-based Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) was reduced from 88.33 points to 28.33 points. Due to the favorable result, replacement of the radial head with the patient-specific implant could be a useful treatment for the irreparable radial head in chronic persistent elbow instability.

The patient-specific implant created with 3D printing technology in treatment of a severe open distal humerus fracture with complete loss of the lateral column

“…12 Using this technique, the tailor-made prostheses for several bones and joints have been previously reported. 13,14 The recent biomechanic study in the cadaveric arms demonstrated that the reverse-engineered distal humeral hemiarthroplasty prostheses did not reproduce the same contact pattern as the native joints, possibly because the prostheses were designed based on distal humeral osseous anatomy from the CT images which is lacked inclusion of the cartilage thickness. 15 For this reason, the authors utilized an osteochondral fragment of the capitellum which was obtained from the surgical debridement to guide for the appropriate morphologic shape and dimension of the surface of the articular portion.…”

Prediction of the Size of the Fragment in Comminuted Coronoid Fracture Using the Contralateral Side: An Analysis of Similarity of Bilateral Ulnar Coronoid Morphology

“…Three-dimensional printing technique is suggested to better restore the complex anatomy. With the development of 3D printing technology in orthopaedics, both 3D skeletal models and implants have been put into clinical practice 20,21 . The application of 3D-printed, personalized prosthesis is a new breakthrough in 3D printing technology, which has been used to replace or restore the osseous structure or normal function.…”

“…The application of 3D-printed, personalized prosthesis is a new breakthrough in 3D printing technology, which has been used to replace or restore the osseous structure or normal function. Currently, published results have suggested its application in spine, hip, knee, and elbow, which has indicated an optimistic outlook [21][22][23][24] . It was believed that postoperative function of the joint and the longevity of the 3D printing prosthesis were closely associated with precise measurement of the anatomical parameters.…”

Management of the failed radial head arthroplasty

“…2 ). 25 Although this is an experimental option at the moment, it may become the definite solution in the near future. Another option we use in our clinic today is under lengthening of the prosthesis by 2 mm.…”