Creation of a Three-Dimensional Printed Model for the Preoperative Planning of Hip Arthroscopy for Femoral Acetabular Impingement.

Abstract

We describe a technique that creates a 3-dimensional (3D) printed model from a patient's own computed tomography scan. This introduces an adjunct to conventional imaging for the surgical management of femoral acetabular impingement. The creation of a tactile 1:1 scale model with patient-specific anatomy allows for free manipulation and inspection. This is compared to planar imaging and 3D-reconstructed computer tomography scans, which are limited in their degrees of movement. With a minimal learning curve because of a highly iterative process, no prior experience in 3D printing is required to successfully complete this technique. The primary barrier of entry is the initial start-up cost of a 3D printer; however, the price per print is minimal. These models are valuable clinical tools that can be used in preoperative planning, patient education, and medical trainee learning.