Symmetry 2018, 10(8), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym10080334
Novel Procedure for Designing and 3D Printing a Customized Surgical Template for Arthrodesis Surgery on the Sacrum
1
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
2
I.M.C.A.R. S.P.A., Via Salvo d’Acquisto 49, 20863 Concorrezzo MB, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 10 July 2018 / Revised: 5 August 2018 / Accepted: 7 August 2018 / Published: 10 August 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry and Engineering Design)
Abstract
In this article, the authors propose a novel procedure for designing a customized 3D-printed surgical template to guide surgeons in inserting screws into the sacral zone during arthrodesis surgeries. The template is characterized by two cylindrical guides defined by means of trajectories identified, based on standard procedure, via an appropriate Computer-Aided-Design (CAD)-based procedure. The procedure is based on the definition of the insertion direction by means of anatomical landmarks that enable the screws to take advantage of the maximum available bone path. After 3D printing, the template adheres perfectly to the bone surface, showing univocal positioning by exploiting the foramina of the sacrum, great maneuverability due to the presence of an ergonomic handle, as well as a break system for the two independent guides. These features make the product innovative. Thanks to its small size and the easy anchoring, the surgeon can simply position the template on the insertion area and directly insert the screws, without alterations to standard surgical procedures. This has the effect of reducing the overall duration of the surgery and the patient’s exposure to X-rays, and increasing both the safety of the intervention and the quality of the results. View Full-TextKeywords:
patient-specific guide; rapid prototyping; orthopaedic device; computer-aided surgery; X-ray minimization
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Naddeo, F.; Naddeo, A.; Cappetti, N.; Cataldo, E.; Militio, R. Novel Procedure for Designing and 3D Printing a Customized Surgical Template for Arthrodesis Surgery on the Sacrum. Symmetry 2018, 10, 334.
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