Practical 3D Reconstruction and 3D Printing of Veterinary CT Scans in Small Animals: A Technical Demonstration with Reader-Based Validation in Canine Cranial Trauma

Traumatic fractures are common in small animal emergency care, yet subtle fracture lines may be difficult to identify accurately using routine three-dimensional reconstruction workflows, particularly when access to specialized software is limited. This study describes the use of the open-source platform Three-Dimensional Slicer for computed tomography-based reconstruction and three-dimensional printing in a small dog with cranial trauma, with emphasis on documenting a practical and reproducible workflow through voxel resampling. Imaging data were imported into the software, bone structures were segmented using a rapid workflow, voxel spacing was resampled for smoother surface visualization by volume resampling, and the reconstructed model was processed for physical printing. Digital models of different resolutions were generated within minutes, and a life-size skull model was successfully fabricated using fused deposition modeling in less than three hours at a material cost of under one United States dollar. The enhanced model provided an intuitive representation of fracture morphology and spatial relationships compared with routine reconstruction alone. These findings demonstrate that open-source software combined with low-cost printing can provide a rapid, affordable, and user-friendly approach for practical skeletal reconstruction in small animals, with practical value for fracture assessment, preoperative planning, and broader use in resource-limited veterinary settings.