Three-Dimensional Printing: A Catalyst for a Changing Orthopaedic Landscape

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging tool in provider and patient education, surgical planning, and the design and implementation of medical devices and implants. Recent decreases in the cost of 3D printers along with advances in and cost reduction of printable materials have elevated 3D printing within the medical device industry. The advantages of 3D printing over traditional means of implant manufacturing lie in its ability to use a wide array of materials, its fine control of the macro- and microarchitecture, and its unprecedented customizability. Barriers to the widespread adoption of 3D-printed implants include questions of implant durability, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for patient-specific implants, and insurance coverage of those implants.