Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36952034›Full record

Article3D printing in medicine2023

Local design and manufacturing of patient-specific implant using Anatomage Medical Design Studio software: proof of concept - Botswana's 1st case report.

Shathani Nkhwa, Thapelo Montshiwa, Deon de Beer, Gerrie Booysen, Cules van den Heever, Johan Els, Andre Heydenrych, Maikutlo Kebaetse

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In one paragraph

Article in 3D printing in medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Shathani NkhwaFaculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Botswana, Corner of Notwane and Mobuto Road, Pvt Bag, 00713, Gaborone, Botswana.
Thapelo MontshiwaSidilega Private Hospital, Orthopaedic Surgery, P.O. Box 70905, Gaborone, Botswana.
Deon de BeerFree State, Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Central University of Technology, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.
Gerrie BooysenFree State, Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Central University of Technology, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.
Cules van den HeeverFree State, Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Central University of Technology, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.
Johan ElsFree State, Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Central University of Technology, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.
Andre HeydenrychFree State, Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Central University of Technology, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.
Maikutlo KebaetseFaculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Botswana, Corner of Notwane and Mobuto Road, Pvt Bag, 00713, Gaborone, Botswana. kebaetsemb@ub.ac.bw.

Funding

Lloyd's Register Foundation, United Kingdom AtRI\100019, 2018 University of Botswana - Shathani Nkhwa
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBotswana, like most sub-Sahara African nations, uses conventional orthopaedic implants that are sourced from major manufactures in the West. The implants are mass-produced and designed with universal configurations to fit an average patient. During surgery, surgeons thus sometimes bend the implants to match the individual bone anatomy, especially for paediatric patients and those with unique deformities, thus risking implant failure. The purpose of this project was to show the feasibility of developing safe and effective patient-specific orthopaedic implants in a low-resourced market.

methodsCT Scan slice files of a paediatric patient with Ollier's disease were used to reconstruct the lower limb anatomy. The resultant files were 3D printed into prototypes that showed severe right knee valgus deformity. The surgeon used the prototype to plan for corrective femoral osteotomy and the required implant. The implant design and planned surgery were subsequently simulated on the Medical Design Studio software for proper fitting before final implant printing. Surgery was then performed, followed by 12 weeks of physiotherapy.

resultsPost-surgical x-rays demonstrated good implant positioning and knee joint alignment. At 18 months of post-surgical follow-up, the child was pain-free, could perform full squats, and ambulation was near-normal, without the use of an assistive device.

conclusionsIt is feasible to develop effective, patient-specific implants for selected orthopaedic cases in a low-resourced country. This work could improve surgical and rehabilitation outcomes for selected paediatric patients and those with severe bone deformities.

Indexed as

3D printingAchilles tendon lengtheningMedical design studioOllier’s diseasePatient-specific implantPost-operative knee rehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID36952034
PMCPMC10035237

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Textfull text, public
LicenceCC BY
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measurements read11
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.