Integration of Three-dimensional Technologies in Orthopedics: A Tool for Preoperative Planning of Tibial Plateau Fractures

BACKGROUND: There is a growing scientific interest in the use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies in orthopedic surgery. Digitalization makes research in orthopedics more accurate and quantitative. Scientific literature describes an overview of current 3D technologies applications in orthopedics, without any emphasis on integrating available technologies as a clinical workflow. OBJECTIVE: To develop a clinical workflow integrating 3D technologies for patient-specific applications in orthopedics validated in practice by employment of a free 3D software solution with the aim of minimizing the intervention. METHOD: By exploring the applications of 3D technologies in orthopedic surgery, we have created a clinical workflow integrating 3D technologies for patient-specific applications in orthopedics. It is validated in practice for preoperative planning of a 49-year-old male patient who had a tibial plateau fracture of Schatzker type VI in his right leg. The software solution we have used is Democratiz3D, from Embodi3d platform, which allows patient-specific modeling and surgical planning. RESULTS: By using the proposed methodology we obtained the model of the tibial plateau fracture Schatzker type VI, as a “solid” representation in stl type files, which represents a numerically defined geometry of the bones fragments. It helps surgeons in planning the surgical approach. The time from the beginning to the end of the analysis was 193 min, which is 15% lower than times reported in similar studies. CONCLUSION: The planning potential of the 3D solution is a valuable instrument for surgeons in exploring the nature of tibial plateau fractures and the formulation of a suitable surgical plan for surface alignment, design and screw fixation guides, strength calculations of bone fragments, and printing surgical objects.