title: Clinical application of three-dimensional printing in the personalized treatment of complex spinal disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) printing in complex spinal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted from October 2014 to March 2015 in Shenzhen Second Peoples' Hospital and 4 cases of complex severe spinal disorders were selected from our department. Among them one patient combined with congenital scoliosis, one with atlas neoplasm, one with atlantoaxial dislocation, and the rest one with atlantoaxial fracture-dislocation. The data of the diseased region was collected from computerized tomography scans for 3D digital reconstruction and rapid prototyping to prepare photosensitive resin models, which were applied in the treatment of these cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of 3D models reduced operating time and intraoperative blood loss as well as the risk of postoperative complications. Furthermore, no pedicle penetrations or screw misplacement occurred according to the postoperative planar radiographic images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tactile models from 3D printing allow direct observation and measurement, helping the orthopedists to have accurate morphometric information to provide personalized surgical planning and better communication with the patient and coworkers. Moreover, the photosensitive resin models can also guide the actual surgery with the drilling of pedicle screws and safe resection of tumor.
authors.affiliation: Clinical School of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Tian
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin-Jian
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Teng-Hui
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yi-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Si-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057285:Precision Medicine; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery