• Yiting Lou, Leyi Cai, Chenggui Wang, Qian Tang, Tianlong Pan, Xiaoshan Guo, and Jianshun Wang.
• Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xue Yuan Xi Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.
• Int Orthop. 2017 Sep 1; 41 (9): 1875-1880.

PurposeThis study was conducted to compare traditional surgery and surgery assisted by 3D printing technology in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures. In addition, we also investigated the effect of 3D printing technology on the communication between doctors and patients.MethodsSeventy two patients with tibial plateau fractures were enrolled in the study from April 2014 to October 2015. They were divided into two groups: 34 cases of 3D model group, 38 cases of traditional surgery group. The individual models were used to simulate the surgical procedures and carry out the surgery according to plan. Operation time, blood loss, and number of intra-operative fluoroscopy were recorded. Through the follow-up, the recovery of patients were observed. Besides, we designed questionnaires to verify the satisfaction for both surgeons and patients.ResultsThe average operation time, average amount of blood loss, and number of intra-operative fluoroscopy for 3D model group was 85.2±0.9 minutes, 186.3± 5.5ml, 5.3± 0.2 times, and for traditional surgery group was 99.2±1.0 minutes, 216.2 ±6.9 ml,7.1 ± 0.2 times respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the traditional surgery group and 3D model group (P < 0.05). Via follow-up, we can see that the 3D printing group has a better clinical efficacy. The average score of the questionnaires to Patient and doctors were 7.3 ± 0.1 points and 8.5± 0.1 points respectively.ConclusionThis study suggested the clinical feasibility of 3D printing technology in treatment of tibial plateau fractures.

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