Key result
3D printing offers prosthetic design advantages but costs, material constraints, and lack of standards limit adoption.
Why the study?
While 3D printing is increasingly embraced in prosthetics and orthotics, its potential to transform practice and the considerations for bringing it into mainstream care remained to be fully explored.
3D printing has the potential to transform prosthetics and orthotics care, but widespread adoption requires overcoming current technological, economic, and clinical evidence barriers.
3D printing adoption in prosthetics remains constrained by materials and costs; leaves open development of standards and validation studies.
Many within the prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) industry are embracing 3D printing technology to produce better devices more efficiently, cost-effectively and to improve patient outcomes. 3D printing is here to stay, but how much will it transform P&O practices? This paper explores the state-of 3D printing technology as it applies to P&O and aims to highlight important considerations for bringing 3D printing into mainstream practice. The paper draws from recent published literature, as well as experiences stemming from ongoing efforts focused on implementing digital workflows and 3D printing into P&O care. The paper examines the topic from the technological, research, economics, funding, and clinical perspectives. While 3D printing and digital workflows have advantages over traditional methods (i.e. ability to design more complex parts, reprinting and reproduction of parts, less labour intensive) there are also challenges limiting adoption. First, despite recent advancements in 3D printing technology, gaps still exist in terms of the materials and processes. For example, cost-effectively fabricating devices that are concurrently strong and durable, allow for colourful designs, and are thermoformable are still being developed. Cost-wise, 3D printing may currently be more viable for small, or paediatric devices. There are also limited technical standards to ensure safe and durable devices are produced, as well as a lack of evidence and information about patient outcomes and operating costs. Nevertheless, a great amount of enthusiasm and momentum exists within the industry to innovate, and with it the potential for 3D printing to one day be central to mainstream P&O care. Given the many aspects of the P&O industry, collaboration and partnerships will facilitate learning from each other to advance and realize the potential of 3D printing sooner. Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/42138/32197 How To Cite: Andrysek J, Ramdial S. Transforming P & O care with 3D printing– more than meets the eye. Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal. 2023; Volume 6, Issue 2, No.3. https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v6i2.42138 Corresponding Author: Jan Andrysek, PhDBloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada.E-Mail: jan.andrysek@utoronto.caORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4976-1228
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Andrysek et al. (2023) conducted an editorial in Conditions requiring prosthetics and orthotics. 3D printing and digital workflows vs. Traditional fabrication methods was evaluated. While 3D printing offers advantages for prosthetics and orthotics such as complex designs and efficient reproduction, widespread adoption is limited by material constraints, costs, and lack of standards.
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