title: Thoracic Pedicle Screw Placement Guide Plate Produced by Three-Dimensional (3-D) Laser Printing.
abstract: BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of an individualized thoracic pedicle screw placement guide plate produced by 3-D laser printing. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thoracic pedicle samples of 3 adult cadavers were randomly assigned for 3-D CT scans. The 3-D thoracic models were established by using medical Mimics software, and a screw path was designed with scanned data. Then the individualized thoracic pedicle screw placement guide plate models, matched to the backside of thoracic vertebral plates, were produced with a 3-D laser printer. Screws were placed with assistance of a guide plate. Then, the placement was assessed. RESULTS With the data provided by CT scans, 27 individualized guide plates were produced by 3-D printing. There was no significant difference in sex and relevant parameters of left and right sides among individuals (P>0.05). Screws were placed with assistance of guide plates, and all screws were in the correct positions without penetration of pedicles, under direct observation and anatomic evaluation post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS A thoracic pedicle screw placement guide plate can be produced by 3-D printing. With a high accuracy in placement and convenient operation, it provides a new method for accurate placement of thoracic pedicle screws.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, First Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Hongliang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Kaijing
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, First Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Huilin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Dongying
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D001860:Bone Plates; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065289:Pedicle Screws; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011897:Random Allocation; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*