Efficacy of virtual surgical planning and a three‐dimensional‐printed, patient‐specific reduction system to facilitate alignment of diaphyseal tibial fractures stabilized by minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis in dogs: A prospective clinical study

• Published in: Veterinary surgery 2024-08, Vol.53 (6), p.1039-1051
• Main Authors: Scheuermann, Logan M., Lewis, Daniel D., Johnson, Matthew D., Biedrzycki, Adam H., Kim, Stanley E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alignment; Animals; Bone Plates - veterinary; Computed tomography; Dogs; Dogs - injuries; Dogs - surgery; Effectiveness; Female; fracture fixation; Fracture Fixation, Internal - instrumentation; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fracture Fixation, Internal - veterinary; Fractures; Male; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures - instrumentation; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures - methods; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures - veterinary; Osteosynthesis; Patients; Planning; Population studies; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Prospective Studies; Telesurgery; Three dimensional models; three-dimensional printing; Tibia; Tibial Fractures - surgery; Tibial Fractures - veterinary
• ISSN: 0161-3499; 1532-950X; 1532-950X
• DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14118

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of a three‐dimensional (3D)‐printed, patient‐specific reduction system for aligning diaphyseal tibial fractures stabilized using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO). Study design Prospective clinical trial. Sample population Fifteen client owned dogs. Methods Virtual 3D models of both pelvic limbs were created. Pin guides were designed to conform to the proximal and distal tibia. A reduction bridge was designed to align the pin guides based on the guides' spatial location. Guides were 3D printed, sterilized, and applied, in conjunction with transient application of a circular fixator, to facilitate indirect fracture realignment before plate application. Alignment of the stabilized tibiae was assessed using postoperative computed tomography scans. Results Mean duration required for virtual planning was 2.5 h and a mean of 50.7 h elapsed between presentation and surgery. Guide placement was accurate with minor median discrepancies in translation and frontal, sagittal, and axial plane positioning of 2.9 mm, 3.6°, 2.7°, and 6.8°, respectively. Application of the reduction system restored mean tibial length and frontal, sagittal, and axial alignment within 1.7 mm, 1.9°, 1.7°, and 4.5°, respectively, of the contralateral tibia. Conclusion Design and fabrication of a 3D‐printed, patient‐specific fracture reduction system is feasible in a relevant clinical timeline. Intraoperative pin‐guide placement was reasonably accurate with minor discrepancies compared to the virtual plan. Custom 3D‐printed reduction system application facilitated near‐anatomic or acceptable fracture reduction in all dogs. Clinical significance Virtual planning and fabrication of a 3D‐printing patient‐specific fracture reduction system is practical and facilitated acceptable, if not near‐anatomic, fracture alignment during MIPO.