Abstract
Pelvic implants require complex geometrical shapes to reconstruct unusual areas of bone defects, as well as a high mechanical strength in order to endure high compressive loads. The electron beam melting (EBM) method is capable of directly fabricating complex metallic structures and shapes based on digital models. Fixation design is important during the 3D printing of pelvic implants, given that the fixation secures the pelvic implants to the remaining bones, while also bearing large amounts of the loads placed on the bone. In this study, a horseshoe-shaped plate fixation with a bridge component between two straight plates is designed to enhance the mechanical stability of pelvic implants. The aim of this study is to investigate the biomechanics of the horseshoe-shaped plate fixation in a 3D-printed pelvic implant using a finite element (FE) simulation. First, computed tomography (CT) scans were acquired from a patient with periacetabular bone tumors. Second, 3D FE implant models were created using the patient’s Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data. Third, a FE simulation was conducted and the stress distribution between a conventional straight-type plate model, and the horseshoe-shaped plate model was compared. In both of the models, high-stress regions were observed at the iliac fixation area. In contrast, minimal stress regions were located at the pubic ramus and ischium fixation area. The key finding of this study was that the maximal stress of the horseshoe-shaped plate model (38.6 MPa) was 21% lower than that of the straight-type plate model (48.9 MPa) in the iliac fixation area. The clinical potential for the application of the horseshoe-shaped plate fixation model to the pelvic implant has been demonstrated, although this is a pilot study.
Highlights
Pelvic implants require complex geometrical shapes to reconstruct unusual areas of bone defects, as well as mechanical strength to endure high compressive loads [1]
In the straight-type plate model and the horseshoe-shaped plate model, a high-stress region was observed at the iliac fixation area
Horseshoe-shaped plate model, a high-stress region was observed at the iliac fixation area
Summary
Pelvic implants require complex geometrical shapes to reconstruct unusual areas of bone defects, as well as mechanical strength to endure high compressive loads [1]. Custom pelvic prostheses have been utilized for reconstruction after the resection of bone tumors [1,2]. Custom pelvic prostheses have been fabricated by machining a solid titanium block, and this requires intensive labor and a long fabrication time [2]. Electron-beam melting (EBM), a type of 3D printing technology, can directly fabricate complex metallic structures with excellent material properties (almost no porosity) [3] and shapes, on the basis of digital models [4].
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