Scheuermann et al: Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis of femoral fractures with 3D‐printed bone models and custom surgical guides: A cadaveric study in dogs
Veterinary Surgery 6, 2023

🔍 Key Findings

• Precontoured plates using 3D-printed femoral models achieved near-anatomic alignment in all cadaver limbs.
• Fracture reduction system (FRS) required significantly fewer fluoroscopy images than intramedullary pin (IMP) methods (7 vs 26, P = .001).
• Despite longer surgical time (43 vs 29 minutes, P = .011), FRS showed equally accurate or better alignment compared to IMP.
• Femoral length, frontal, sagittal, and axial alignment were all within near-anatomic thresholds (<10 mm or <5° deviation) in both groups.
• FRS was associated with more consistent length maintenance, with IMP showing a median shortening of 2.3 mm (P = .03).
• Axial plane deviation was statistically different in the FRS group (P = .04), but still clinically acceptable.
• Study highlights potential for custom 3D-printed guides to reduce radiation exposure and improve precision in MIPO procedures.
• Authors caution that FRS was time-consuming and cumbersome, suggesting design refinements needed for clinical use.