• Feng Shuang, Wei Hu, Yinchu Shao, Hao Li, and Hongxing Zou.
• From the Department of Orthopedics, the 94th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Changcheng Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2016 Jan 1; 95 (3): e2461.

AbstractThe aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy custom 3D-printed osteosynthesis plates in the treatment of intercondylar humeral fractures.Thirteen patients with distal intercondylar humeral fractures were randomized to undergo surgery using either conventional plates (n = 7) or 3D-printed plates (n = 6) at our institution from March to October 2014. Both groups were compared in terms of operative time and elbow function at 6 month follow-up.All patients were followed-up for a mean of 10.6 months (range: 6-13 months). The 3D-printing group had a significantly shorter mean operative time (70.6 ± 12.1 min) than the conventional plates group (92.3 ± 17.4 min). At the last follow-up period, there was no significant difference between groups in the rate of patients with good or excellent elbow function, although the 3D-printing group saw a slightly higher rate of good or excellent evaluations (83.1%) compared to the conventional group (71.4%).Custom 3D printed osteosynthesis plates are safe and effective for the treatment of intercondylar humeral fractures and significantly reduce operative time.

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