ArticleEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie2023
Filling the gap: a series of 3D-printed titanium truss cages for the management of large, lower limb bone defects in a developing country setting.
Article in European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Patient-specific implants for joint-sparing reconstruction of segmental tibial and femoral defects : systematic literature review and introduction of a classification framework.Bone & joint research · 2026Pooled it
- 3D-printed prothesis combined hinged knee arthroplasty in the treatment of critical-sized osteomyelitis-derived bone defects around the knee joint.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Article
- 3D-Printed Titanium Implants with Bioactive Peptide-Polysaccharide Scaffolds for Personalized Bone Reconstruction.Advanced healthcare materials · 2026Article
- Strategic considerations in the treatment of infected nonunion in the lower extremity: a narrative review.International journal of surgery (London, England) · 2026Article
- The Use of Platelet-Rich Fibrin-Coated Three-Dimensionally (3D) Printed Scaffolds in Salvage of Complex Hindfoot Cases.Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Custom-Made 3D-Printed Titanium Implants for Managing Segmental Distal Tibial Bone Defects: A Systematic Literature Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Application of 3D-printed porous prosthesis for the reconstruction of infectious bone defect with concomitant severe soft tissue lesion: a case series of 13 cases.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Applying 3D-printed prostheses to reconstruct critical-sized bone defects of tibial diaphysis (> 10 cm) caused by osteomyelitis and aseptic non-union.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024Article
- An innovative intramedullary bone graft harvesting concept as a fundamental component of scaffold-guided bone regeneration: A preclinicalJournal of orthopaedic translation · 2024Article
- 3D-printed titanium porous prosthesis combined with the Masquelet technique for the management of large femoral bone defect caused by osteomyelitis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Reconstruction of an Extensive Segmental Radial Shaft Bone Defect by Vascularized 3D-Printed Graft Cage.Journal of personalized medicine · 2024Article
- The Concept of Scaffold-Guided Bone Regeneration for the Treatment of Long Bone Defects: Current Clinical Application and Future Perspective.Journal of functional biomaterials · 2023Review
- Long Bone Defect Filling with Bioactive Degradable 3D-Implant: Experimental Study.Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionLarge segmental long bone defects are notoriously difficult to manage. Treatment is resource-intensive due to the complexity, cost, and specialized skills required. Truss designs are known for their triangular shapes organized in web configurations. This allows for maximal mechanical strength, the least mass, and a lattice that can be filled with bone graft. Using a truss cage combined with contemporary internal fixation provides immediate stability for bone ingrowth and long-term potential union. The implant is designed using virtual 3D modelling of the patient's bone defect based on a CT scan. The truss cage can be used in a staged procedure combined with Masquelet's induced membrane technique. This study aims to review the outcomes of patient-specific, locally designed 3D titanium truss cages packed with cancellous autograft in treating segmental, long bone defects in the lower limb in a developing country setting.
methodsThis retrospective series reviewed cases performed at various institutions between January 2019 and March 2022. Parameters assessed included patient demographics, size and location of the defect, time to clinical and radiological union and complications.
resultsNine cases were included for review, with a mean age of 36 years (range 19-52). Defects ranged from 60 to 205 mm, and eight cases were staged procedures. Eight cases used intramedullary reamings as bone graft. Contemporary intramedullary nails were used for fixation in all cases. No peri- or post-operative complications occurred. All cases progressed to functional union.
conclusion3D-printed titanium truss cages combined with bone graft appear to be an effective treatment of large bone defects in the lower limb in a developing country setting in the short term. No complications were encountered, but longer follow-up is needed before definitive recommendations can be made. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV (retrospective case series).
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