Scheuermann et al: Virtual surgical planning and use of a 3D‐printed, patient‐specific reduction system for minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis of diaphyseal tibial fractures in dogs: A historic case control study
Veterinary Surgery 6, 2024

🔍 Key Findings

• The study was a historic case-control trial comparing custom 3D-printed VSP-guided MIPO (3D-MIPO) to conventional MIPO (c-MIPO) in dogs with diaphyseal tibial fractures.
• Surgical time was significantly shorter in the 3D-MIPO group (117 min vs. 151 min; p = .014), and fluoroscopy use was dramatically reduced (11 vs. 37 images; p < .001).
• All 3D-MIPO reductions were acceptable or near-anatomic; 2 c-MIPO dogs had unacceptable reductions.
• Tibial length, frontal, and sagittal alignment post-op were similar between groups; no significant difference in anatomic restoration (p > .1).
• Radiographic union occurred in all dogs by 3 months. Time to union was similar between groups (3D-MIPO: 67 days vs. c-MIPO: 53 days; p = .207).
• Postoperative complication rate was higher in 3D-MIPO (27% vs. 14%), including 2 major infections requiring implant removal.
• 3D-MIPO required more pre-op time (~23 hours longer from presentation to surgery; p = .002), partly due to guide printing/sterilization.
• Improved surgical efficiency and more consistent reductions were noted in the 3D-MIPO group, supporting its clinical utility despite increased pre-op logistics.