Use of rapid prototyping and three-dimensional reconstruction modeling in the management of complex fractures.
BACKGROUND
The production of a copy of the fracture or a deformity in a bone with a complex geometry can be one of the important applications of the integration between two modern computer-based technologies, reverse engineering (RE) and rapid prototyping (RP).


METHODS
This article reviews recent development in this field and present a case series about the use of medical CT/MRI scanning, three-dimensional reconstruction, anatomical modeling, computer-aided design, RP and computer-aided implantation in treating a complex fracture of acetabulums, calcaneum, and medial condyle of femur (Hoffa's fracture).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of RP technology helped us to understand the fracture configuration and to achieve near anatomical reduction. With this we believe, this technology will reduce the surgical time as was observed in our cases. This consequently, will lower the requirement of an anesthetic dosage and decrease the intraoperative blood loss.In summary, the merging of computational analysis, modeling, designing, and fabrication will serve as important means to treat conditions and fractures around joints, spine, acetabulum, and craniofacial region.


METHODS
Level 4, case series.
NIIDAAN Orthopaedic Centre, Nagpur, India. vaibhavbagaria@rediffmail.com
Vaibhav
V
Bagaria
Shirish
S
Deshpande
Darshana D
DD
Rasalkar
Abhay
A
Kuthe
Bhawan K
BK
Paunipagar
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*