AUTHOR=Yang Sha , Lin Huapeng , Luo Cong 

TITLE=Meta-Analysis of 3D Printing Applications in Traumatic Fractures

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2021.696391

DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2021.696391

ISSN=2296-875X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Traumatic fracture is a common orthopaedic disease, and application of 3D printing technology in fracture treatment, which entails utilisation of pre-operative printed anatomic fracture model, is increasingly gaining popularity. However, effectiveness of 3D printing-assisted surgery lacks evidence-based findings to support its application.</p><p><bold>Materials and Methods:</bold> Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched until October, 2020 to identify relevant studies. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing efficacy of 3D printing-assisted surgery vs. conventional surgery for traumatic fractures were reviewed. RevMan V.5.3 software was used to conduct meta-analysis.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> A total of 12 RCTs involving 641 patients were included. Pooled findings showed that 3D printing-assisted surgery had shorter operation duration [standardised mean difference (SMD) = −1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) – 1.70 ~ −1.34, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001], less intraoperative blood loss (SMD = 1.34, 95% CI 1.74 ~ 0.94, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001), fewer intraoperative fluoroscopies (SMD = 1.25, 95% CI 1.64 ~ 0.87, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001), shorter fracture union time (SMD = −0.15, 95% CI −0.25 ~ −0.05, <italic>P</italic> = 0.003), and higher rate of excellent outcomes (OR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.07 ~ 5.37, <italic>P</italic> = 0.03) compared with conventional surgery. No significant differences in complication rates were observed between the two types of surgery (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.69 ~ 1.42, <italic>P</italic> = 0.32).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Indicators including operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, fracture union time, and rates of excellent outcomes showed that 3D printing-assisted surgery is a superior alternative in treatment of traumatic fractures compared with conventional surgery. Moreover, the current study did not report significant differences in incidence of complications between the two approaches.</p><p><bold>Systematic Review Registration:</bold> CRD42021239507.</p>