Orthopaedic support with 3D printing in children : marketing effect or solution of the future?

Abstract

In pediatric orthopaedics, the immobilization of a limb is traditionally done by a cast. The emergence of 3D technologies allows us to produce restraints specific to the anatomical characteristics of the patient. This paper aims to determine the feasibility of the process of developing these restraints.

Descriptive study of the creation process involving 19 patients aged 2 to 14 years for whom a restraint was placed between April 2018 and November 2018. This was mainly post-traumatic pathology (12) and children having a clubfoot (7).

This type of restraint has the following characteristics : use of recyclable material ; lightness ; ventilation ; visibility of the underlying skin tissue and its hydro-compatibility. The major limitations remaining are production time and printing errors.

The emergence of 3D printing, allows us to extend its application to the medical world. When the therapeutic effectiveness of a restraint is achieved, quality of life becomes the main selection criterion. Based on observations already made in the past, we were able to develop a model that combines the advantages of the different approaches.

New 3D printing technologies allow the creation of restraint devices with many advantages and customized adaptation possibilities.