Ricerc@Sapienza

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has developed as a revolutionary technology in surgical planning, prosthetic manufacturing, tissue engineering, and resident and medical student education. The technology allows to obtain an accurate design and manufacturing of physical models from medical imaging for patient-specific perioperative planning, and allows surgeons to perform complex reconstructions with high degrees of efficiency and quality.
The ability to create patient-specific models for use in the operating room permit the precise and rapid contouring of vascularized bone flaps.
The use of home-based 3D printing has become possible with the increasing availability and decreasing cost of 3D printing software and printers. Computed aided design (CAD) software is widely available and easy to use for home 3D printing systems. According to our knowledge few studies describe use of 3D printing with a in hospital-based 3D printer and no studies describe the use of 3D printing in the design of vascularized bone flaps for tibial reconstruction. The aim of this project is to evaluate the efficacy in using home 3D printing technology for fibular bone transfer in lower limb reconstruction after tibial resection due to osteomyelitis or tibial bone defect after acute trauma.