The next evolution of additive manufacturing technology is here. Surgeons have described the technique of four-dimensional printing for preoperative planning in hand surgery.
Four dimensional (4D) printing describes the use of 3D printed haptic models with the added dimension of time to show the change in the model, providing superior anatomical information about the movement of the bones in a hand.
Using 4D computed tomography (CT) scans of bones of a patient’s hand, surgeons in Melbourne were able to demonstrate an accurate representation of their movements during thumb abduction, opposition and key pinch.
The detail of the process is presented in a case report by Dr Michael Chae, a plastic surgery resident and PhD candidate at Monash University under the supervision of Prof Julian Smith, A/Prof David Hunter-Smith, Prof Paul McMenamin, and Mr Warren Rozen, at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Annual Scientific Congress in Brisbane.
“Over the past decade 3D printing has transformed the way surgeons conduct preoperative planning. Here we were able to explore the application of 4D printing in surgical planning,” Dr Chae said.
“We demonstrated how 4D printing can accurately depict the translation of metacarpals during various thumb movements.
“With tactile feedback from the bio models and their ability to accurately represent anatomical details, 4D printing delivers complex spatiotemporal details.”
“With the increasing availability of 4D CT scanners, 4D printing has the potential to become widely accessible for surgical planning and improved clinical outcomes for patients.”
