Summary

3D Printing Technology is expected to improve the success rate of ACL reconstruction and is feasible for further clinical research

Abstract

Background

There is a consensus of the anatomic ACL reconstruction with knee arthroscopy maximally, but due to the individual differences of diameter and print of ligament, the requirements of individual anatomic precise reconstruction can not be meted with traditional single positioning method.

Material: 20 cases of adult body knee, half male and half female.

Method

The body knees are scanned with thin layer CT aimed to gain the data of bones which is used to establish knee joint model by computer software. The femoral and tibial footprint area of anterior cruciate ligament is determined by image analysis. The site and direction of the bone tunnels of femur and tibia is designed and calibrated on the knee joint model. The knee resin mold and ACL navigation template is replicated with the help of 3D printing, the accuracy of which is validated on the body knees.

Results

The internal opening of femoral and tibial bone tunnel is located in the central point of original ligament footprint area, and the site and direction is same as preoperative design.

Discussion

Anatomic single bundle ACL reconstruction assisting by 3D printing can greatly improve the accuracy of positioning and short the time of operation by means of careful preoperative design and preview. The method of positioning is accurate, reliable and repeatability.

Conclusion

This method can greatly reduce the incidence of error for subjective factors, which is expected to improve the success rate of ACL reconstruction and is feasible for further clinical research.