Abstract
Objective To accurately drill the Kirschner wire with the help of the 3D-printed personalized guide and to evaluate the feasibility of the 3D technology as well as the outcome of the surgery. Methods Patients' DICM data of ankle via CT examinations were introduced into the MIMICS software to design the personalized guides. Two 2mm Kirschner wires were drilled with the help of the guides; the C-arm fluoroscopy was used to confirm the position of the wires before applying the cannulated screws. The patients who underwent ankle arthrodesis were divided into two groups. The experimental group adopted the 3D-printed personalized guides, while the control group received traditional method, i.e., drilling the Kirschner wires according to the surgeon's previous experience. The times of completing drilling the Kirschner wires to correct position were compared between the two groups. Regular follow-ups were conducted to statistically analyze the differences in the ankle fusion time and AOFAS scores between the two groups. Results 3D-printed personalized guides were successfully prepared. A total of 29 patients were enrolled, 15 in the experimental group and 14 in the control group. It took 2.2 ± 0.8 minutes to drill the Kirschner wires to correct position in the experimental group and 4.5 ± 1.6 minutes in the control group (p=0.001). No obvious complications occurred in the two groups during and after surgery. Postoperative radiographs confirmed bony fusion in all cases. There were no significant differences in the fusion time (p=0.82) and AOFAS scores at 1 year postoperatively between the two groups (p=0.55). Conclusions The application of 3D-printed personalized guide in assisting the accurate drilling of Kirschner wire in ankle arthrodesis can shorten the operation time and reduce the intraoperative radiation. This technique does not affect the surgical outcome. Trial Registration Number This study is registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov with NCT03626935.
Highlights
Ankle arthrodesis is a reliable surgical method for endstage ankle arthritis [1,2,3]
C-arm fluoroscopy is constantly used during the surgery to confirm the position of Kirschner wire, which wastes the operation time and increases the adverse effects of intraoperative radiation
Three cases in the experimental group and two cases in the control group complained of numbness in the incision area, and all cases returned to normal after six months
Summary
Ankle arthrodesis is a reliable surgical method for endstage ankle arthritis [1,2,3]. Arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis, with advantages of smaller incisions, higher fusion rates, and fewer complications, has gradually gained popularity in recent years. This technique mainly uses cannulated screws for fixation [4,5,6,7,8]. The satisfactory position of the screw is based on the accurate drilling of Kirschner wire. This process is done with the previous experience of the surgeons. C-arm fluoroscopy is constantly used during the surgery to confirm the position of Kirschner wire, which wastes the operation time and increases the adverse effects of intraoperative radiation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
