Application of three-dimensional printing technology in treatment of internal or external ankle distal avulsed fracture

Abstract

To explore the effectiveness and advantage of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in treatment of internal or external ankle distal avulsed fracture. Between January 2015 and January 2017, 20 patients with distal avulsed fracture of internal or external ankle were treated with the 3D guidance of shape-blocking steel plate fixation (group A), and 18 patients were treated with traditional plaster external fixation (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury cause, disease duration, fracture side, and fracture type between 2 groups ( P>0.05). Recording the fracture healing rate, fracture healing time, the time of starting to ankle functional exercise, residual ankle pain, and evaluating ankle function recovery of both groups by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. All patients were followed up 8-24 months, with an average of 15.5 months. In group A: all incisions healed by first intention, the time of starting to ankle functional exercise was (14±3) days, fracture healing rate was 100%, and the fracture healing time was (10.15±2.00) weeks. At 6 months, the AOFAS score was 90.35±4.65. Among them, 13 patients were excellent and 7 patients were good. All patients had no post-operative incision infection, residual ankle pain, or dysfunction during the follow-up. In group B: the time of starting to ankle functional exercise was (40±10) days, the fracture healing rate was 94.44%, and the fracture healing time was (13.83±7.49) weeks. At 6 months, the AOFAS score was 79.28±34.28. Among them, 15 patients were good, 2 patients were medium, and 1 patient was poor. During the follow-up, 3 patients (16.67%) had pain of ankle joint with different degrees. There were significant differences in the postoperative fracture healing rate, fracture healing time, the time of starting to ankle functional exercise, and postoperative AOFAS score between 2 groups ( P<0.05). Application of 3D printing technology in treatment of internal or external ankle distal avulsed fracture is simple, safe, reliable, and effective. In particular, it is an ideal treatment for avulsed fracture.