PP 42. Applications of Three Dimensional Printing in Plastic Surgery
Z. Jessop, M. Gardiner, D. Thomas, J. Malda, I. Whitaker
19:16 - 19:22h
at Margrit Room
Categories: Abdominal Wall and Hernia, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Poster Session
Session: Poster (P3) - Abdominal Wall & Hernia / Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Background
Three dimensional (3D) printing creates a physical model from digital data using additive manufacturing techniques. 'Classic' approaches involve thermoplastics, metal alloys and ceramics. More recently bioprinting or biofabrication has evolved which allows production of biological scaffolds containing cells and bioactive molecules. Bioprinting in combination with the rapid advances in tissue engineering has wide applications in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Material and Methods
A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was performed. The MESH terms used were variants on "three dimensional printing " and "reconstructive surgery". Two independent reviewers assessed articles published between 1987 and 2013. In combination with bibliographic secondary linkage. Data extraction focused on techniques and applications in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Result
Analysis of the literature revealed that the applications of plastic and reconstructive surgery can bebroadly classified into three areas: preoperative planning and education, custom implant manufacture and biofabrication. The latter has been used to create several tissue types including skin, cartilage, blood vessels and bone but there are no clinical trials in existence.
Conclusion
With advances in technology and cost reduction, additive manufacturing technology has brought clinical benefit through improved pre-operative planning and custom implant production. Bioprinting is on the cusp of providing composite and durable biological tissues for use in reconstruction. Fundamental obstacles include balancing scaffold properties to optimise resolution, cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. The panacea of composite flap fabrication or organogenesis would ultimately depend on adequate vasculature.
