Abstract
We investigated whether 3-dimensional (3D) printed models can decrease operation time
and improve the quality of reduction for calcaneal fractures. The study involved 48
patients with unilateral intra-articular calcaneal fractures, who were retrospectively
case-matched according to Sander's classification, age, and sex. Group A (24 patients)
was operated using 3D printed models as a preoperative and intraoperative tool, and
group B (24 patients) was operated using standard techniques without 3D printed model.
Operation time was significantly shorter for group A, compared to group B (82.3 ±
13.2 vs 91.4 ± 16.0, p = .036). The differences between the radiological parameters of operated calcaneus,
compared to the normal side was similar between the 2 groups (Böhler angle, 5.3° ±
3.9° vs 4.2° ± 4.7°, p = .45, Gissane angle, 5.9° ± 12.5° vs 8.4° ± 11.0°, p = .54). The number of screws projecting more than 5 mm from the cortex was lower
in group A than in group B (7/187, 4% vs 16/208, 8%, p = .11). The number of screw holes of the plate cut intraoperatively was significantly
lower for group A compared to group B (1 vs 138). Although group A started weightbearing
3 to 4 weeks earlier than group B, the radiological parameters were similar between
groups that early weightbearing was possible for group A using the 3D printed models
(Böhler angle, - 1.5° ± 0.8° vs - 1.8° ± 1.2°, p = .28, Gissane angle, 2.5° ± 2.6° vs 3.5° ± 4.3°, p = .39). The operation time was shorter while using the 3D printed models, compared
to that of the standard technique without using the 3D printed model. The radiological
parameters were not statistically different, and the quality of fracture reduction
seemed similar. However, with the use of 3D printed models, early weightbearing was
possible without significant subsidence of reduced fragments or failure of fracture
reduction, comparable to non-weightbearing cases.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 12, 2022
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. 2017R1C1B5075653).
Conflict of Interest: Each authors certifies that he or she has no commercial associations that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.
This study was approved by Hallym University Institutional Review Board (IRB-2014-04-58).
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