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Comparison of traditional surgery and surgery assisted by three dimensional printing technology in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was conducted to compare traditional surgery and surgery assisted by 3D printing technology in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures. In addition, we also investigated the effect of 3D printing technology on the communication between doctors and patients.

Methods

Seventy two patients with tibial plateau fractures were enrolled in the study from April 2014 to October 2015. They were divided into two groups: 34 cases of 3D model group, 38 cases of traditional surgery group. The individual models were used to simulate the surgical procedures and carry out the surgery according to plan. Operation time, blood loss, and number of intra-operative fluoroscopy were recorded. Through the follow-up, the recovery of patients were observed. Besides, we designed questionnaires to verify the satisfaction for both surgeons and patients.

Results

The average operation time, average amount of blood loss, and number of intra-operative fluoroscopy for 3D model group was 85.2±0.9 minutes, 186.3± 5.5ml, 5.3± 0.2 times, and for traditional surgery group was 99.2±1.0 minutes, 216.2 ±6.9 ml,7.1 ± 0.2 times respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the traditional surgery group and 3D model group (P < 0.05). Via follow-up, we can see that the 3D printing group has a better clinical efficacy. The average score of the questionnaires to Patient and doctors were 7.3 ± 0.1 points and 8.5± 0.1 points respectively.

Conclusion

This study suggested the clinical feasibility of 3D printing technology in treatment of tibial plateau fractures.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by a grant from National Nature Foundation of China (Grant No.81472146), and Wenzhou Science and Technology Bureau Foundation. (Grant No. Y20160135).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xue Yuan Xi Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China

    Yiting Lou, Leyi Cai, Chenggui Wang, Qian Tang, Tianlong Pan, Xiaoshan Guo & Jianshun Wang

Authors
  1. Yiting Lou
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  2. Leyi Cai
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  3. Chenggui Wang
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  4. Qian Tang
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  5. Tianlong Pan
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  6. Xiaoshan Guo
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  7. Jianshun Wang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiaoshan Guo or Jianshun Wang.

Ethics declarations

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Funding

This study was funded by National Nature Foundation of China (Grant No.81472146), and Wenzhou Science and Technology Bureau Foundation (Grant No. Y20160135).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Lou, Y., Cai, L., Wang, C. et al. Comparison of traditional surgery and surgery assisted by three dimensional printing technology in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 41, 1875–1880 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-017-3445-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-017-3445-y

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