Abstract
3D printing refers to the set of technologies through which it is possible to transform a digital model into a real object. The creation is accomplished by setting down progressive layers of a particular material until the whole item is made. Virtual surgical planning using 3D printing represents one of the greatest technological achievements of the last decades. Medical institutions are setting up laboratories equipped with cutting-edge technological tools and creating virtual models of the patient body parts using dedicated software. Virtual 3D processing takes place using printers which, with filaments and resins, allow the creation of models to assist in the planning of surgical interventions and shorten their execution times. The ability to view the final result of an intervention in 3D format rather than with 2D images facilitates the dialogue between surgeon and patient, giving the latter the possibility of an informed decision. The future of 3D printing is “bioprinting” which represents a great opportunity for biomedical research and for regenerative medicine in particular. The repair and regeneration of tissues or entire organs resulting from congenital defects like microtia or rare facial clefts or acquired diseases like defects left after ablative cancer surgery of the jaws can make use of 3D printing of biological material that allows the generation of living cell layers with the aim of repairing tissues or generating entire organs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hull, CW and UVP, Inc. (1986) Apparatus for Production of Three-Dimensional Objects by Stereolithography. US Pat 4575330
Honigmann P, Schumacher R, Marek R, Buttner F, Thieringer F, Haefeli M (2018) A three-dimensional printed patient-specific scaphoid replacement: a cadaveric study. J Hand Surg Eur 43(4):407–412
Berg PWL, Dobbe JGG, Streekstra GJ (2018) Three-dimensional printed anatomical models in scaphoid surgery. J Hand Surg Eur 43:101–102
Zhang D, Bauer AS, Blazar P, Earp BE (2021) Three-dimensional printing in hand surgery. J Hand Surg Am 46(11):1016–1022
Gordon AR, Schreiber JE, Patel A, Tepper OM (2021) 3D printed surgical guides applied in rhinoplasty to help obtain ideal nasal profile. Aesthetic Plast Surg 45:2852–2859
Yen C-I, Zelken JA, Chang C-S, Lo L-J, Yung Yang J, Chuang SS, Araniego CA, Hsiao YC (2019) Computer-aided design and three-dimensional printing improves symmetry in heminasal reconstruction outcomes. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 72(7):1198–206
Walton RL, Seelaus R, Robinson BR (2019) Subtotal nasal reconstruction using a custom 3-dimensional porous polyethylene construct. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 7(12):e2568
Nishimoto S, Sotsuka Y, Kawai K, Fujita K, Kakibuchi M (2014) Three-dimensional mock-up model for chondral framework in auricular reconstruction, built with a personal three dimensional printer. Plast Reconstr Surg 134:180–181
Nagata S (1993) A new method of total reconstruction of the auricle for microtia. Plast Reconstr Surg 92(02):187–201
Eppley BL, Sadove AM (1998) Computer-generated patient models for reconstruction of cranial and facial deformities. J Craniofac Surg 9(6):548–556
Zopf DA, Hollister SJ, Nelson ME, Ohye RG, Green GE (2013) Bioresorbable airway splint created with a three-dimensional printer. N Engl J Med 368(21):2043–2045
Zhang B, Xue Q, Li J, Ma L, Yao Y, Ye H et al (2019) 3D bioprinting for artificial cornea: challenges and perspectives. Med Eng Phys 71:68–78
Debellemanière G, Flores M, Montard M, Delbosc B, Saleh M (2016) Three-dimensional printing of optical lenses and ophthalmic surgery: challenges and perspectives. J Refract Surg 32(3):201–204
Kormann RB, Mörschbächer R, Moreira H, Akaishi P (2019) A three-dimensional printed photopolymer resin implant for orbital rehabilitation for evisceration. Arq Bras Oftalmol 82(6):471–475
Scawn RL, Foster A, Lee BW, Kikkawa DO, Korn BS (2015) Customised 3D printing: an innovative training tool for the next generation of orbital surgeons. Orbit 34(4):216–219
Louvrier A, Marty P, Barrabé A, Euvrard E, Chatelain B, Weber E, Meyer C (2017) How useful is 3D printing in maxillofacial surgery? J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg 118:206–212
Morrison WA, Marre D, Grinsell D, Batty A, Trost N, O’Connor AJ (2016) Creation of a large adipose tissue construct in humans using a tissue-engineering chamber: a step forward in the clinical application of soft tissue engineering. EBioMedicine 6:238–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.03.032
Melchels F, Wiggenhauser PS, Warne D, Barry M, RhuOng F, Chong WS et al (2011) CAD/CAM-assisted breast reconstruction. Biofabrication 3:034114. https://doi.org/10.1088/1758-5082/3/3/034114
Draenert FG, Gebhart F, Mitov G, Neff A (2017) Biomaterial shell bending with 3D-printed templates in vertical and alveolar ridge augmentation: a technical note. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 123:651–660
Mandrycky C, Wang Z, Kim K, Kim DH (2016) 3D bioprinting for engineering complex tissues. Biotechnol Adv 34(4):422–434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.12.011
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Bhattacharya, S., Bhattacharya, N. & Bhattacharya, K. Role of 3D Printing in Surgery. Indian J Surg 85, 1319–1322 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-023-03725-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-023-03725-z