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Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery with 3D Printing: Improvements and Cost Reduction

Authors :
Leonardo Frizziero
Gian Maria Santi
Alfredo Liverani
Valentina Giuseppetti
Giovanni Trisolino
Elena Maredi
Stefano Stilli
Source :
Symmetry, Vol 11, Iss 10, p 1317 (2019)
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2019.

Abstract

This paper presents a a novel alghorithm of diagnosis and treatment of rigid flatfoot due to tarsal coalition. It introduces a workflow based on 3D printed models, that ensures more efficiency, not only by reducing costs and time, but also by improving procedures in the preoperative clinical phase. Since this paper concerns the development of a new methodology that integrates both engineering and medical fields, it highlights symmetry. An economic comparison is made between the traditional method and the innovative one; the results demonstrate a reduction in costs with the latter. The current, traditional method faces critical issues in diagnosing the pathologies of a limb (such as the foot) and taking decisions for further treatment of the same limb. The proposed alternative methodology thus uses new technologies that are part of the traditional workflow, only replacing the most obsolete ones. In fact, it is increasingly becoming necessary to introduce new technologies in orthopedics, as in other areas of medicine, to offer improved healthcare services for patients. Similar clinical treatments can be performed using the aforementioned technologies, offering greater effectiveness, more simplicity of approach, shorter times, and lower costs. An important technology that fits into this proposed methodology is 3D printing.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20738994
Volume :
11
Issue :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Symmetry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.94bad48cd54b7eb428fa5afd50e2de
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/sym11101317