This case study is based on the work of Axial3D and was originally published on the Axial3D website. Axial3D’s cloud-based segmentation platform is used to convert 2D data into a 3D printed anatomical model. and demonstrates the potential of 3D visualization and 3D printing to improve outcomes for patients.
A patient presented with a severe deformity that affected most of the bones in their foot, especially in their 3rd, 4th, and 5th metatarsals. Given the complex arrangements of the bones in the foot, the surgeon on the case found it difficult to fully conceptualize the deformity on 2D images.
The surgeon requested a precise 3D printed model a pre-operative planning guide to help gain insight into the patient's entire pathology. Patient-specific 3D models can improve the diagnosis of illnesses and injuries, clarify treatment decisions, and help physicians better prepare for a procedure by allowing them to practice the surgical intervention on a model before entering the operating room.
In addition to gathering insight into the patient's deformity through the 3D model, it was also used to practice several different osteotomy approaches to ensure the correct plan and equipment were prepared before the surgery.
Without access to the 3D model, the surgeon would not have had the opportunity to physically practice the plan to correct the patient's gait, nor would they have been able to select the exact equipment ahead of time. This could have resulted in longer operating times and increased costs.
Stratasys has partnered with Axial3D to make patient-specific 3D models and images easily accessible and affordable for hospitals and medical device companies around the world. Axial3D’s 510(k)-cleared segmentation process converts DICOM data into 3D visualizations, and Stratasys printers can then be used to produce anatomical models for pre-operative surgical planning and diagnostic use.
Patient-specific 3D printing technology for pre-surgical planning provides the most comprehensive preparation for surgical procedures, helps standardize delivery of care, and adds an invaluable tool to a precision medicine arsenal.
