Facilitating surgeon understanding of complex anatomy using a three-dimensional printed model

• Published in: The Journal of surgical research 2017-08, Vol.216, p.18-25
• Main Authors: Cromeens, Barrett P., Ray, William C., Hoehne, Brad, Abayneh, Fikir, Adler, Brent, Besner, Gail E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D printing; Abdomen - anatomy & histology; Additive manufacturing; Anatomy; Clinical Competence; Conjoined twins; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Models, Anatomic; Ohio; Pediatrics - education; Pelvis - anatomy & histology; Perception; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Pygopagus; Specialties, Surgical - education; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Twins, Conjoined
• ISSN: 0022-4804; 1095-8673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2017.04.003

3-dimensional prints (3DP) anecdotally facilitate surgeon understanding of anatomy and decision-making. However, the actual benefit to surgeons or patients has not been quantified. This study investigates how surgeon understanding of complex anatomy is altered by a 3DP compared to computed tomography (CT) scan or CT + digital reconstruction (CT + DR). Key anatomic features were segmented from a CT-abdomen/pelvis of pygopagus twins to build a DR and printed in color on a 3D printer. Pediatric surgery trainees and attendings (n = 21) were tested regarding anatomy identification and their understanding of point-to-point distances, scale, and shape. There was no difference between media regarding point-to-point distances. The 3DP led to an increased number of correct answers for questions of scale and shape compared to CT (P