Three-dimensional (3D) printing has evolved from an experimental technology to a tool with practical applications in sports medicine. Advances in materials science and manufacturing have enabled the fabrication of instrumentation compatible with the complexities of musculoskeletal anatomy. Current applications of 3D printing include patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) and guides, custom implants, anatomic modelling, and early-stage biologic scaffolds. Emerging literature has demonstrated potential clinical benefit for certain sports medicine procedures of the knee, shoulder, and hip, including anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, peri-articular osteotomy, and complex biologic restoration procedures. Likewise, materials science continues to evolve to allow for further implant customization. Although nascent at present time, emerging work in soft tissue bioprinting yields the potential to engineer viable cartilage, meniscus, and osteochondral constructs, though significant challenges remain prior to these representing effective solutions in contemporary practice. Although applications for customized instrumentation and implants have growing clinical utility, barriers to routine use remain, including a dependence on high-quality imaging, variability in manufacturing accuracy, sterilization, regulatory gaps, and cost. Continued clinical and translational research, cost-benefit analyses, and development of regulatory standards highlight future directions for 3D printing in orthopaedic sports medicine.
Moran et al. (Sun,) studied this question.