Digital Technology Combined with 3D Printing to Evaluate the Matching Performance of AO Clavicular Hook Plates.

Abstract

AO clavicular hook plates have been widely used for treating acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation and distal clavicle fractures. Many complications have been reported, and many patients have complained about the discomfort of the plate. However, no study on the impact of clavicular hook plates in AC joint 3D printing models has been reported. To evaluate the matching performance of hook plates with different hook depths when they were implanted in 3D printing models of normal Chinese AC joints and to propose a further design to achieve a better match. AO clavicular hook plates with two different hook depths of 15mm and 18mm were implanted in 3D printing models of forty Chinese normal AC joints. The angle between the distal clavicle and plate (CPA) and the drop between acromion and distal clavicle (ACD) of normal AC joints with and without plates were measured. Mismatch was found when the hook plates were implanted, with an average CPA of 18.8 ± 5.1° with the 15-mm hook plate and 10.2 ± 4.9° with the 18-mm hook plate. To eliminate the CPA, the ACD decreased by 6.3 ± 1.1mm with the 15-mm hook plate and 2.9 ± 0.9mm with the 18-mm hook plate. The results revealed that AO clavicular hook plates with different hook depths were very likely to result in over-reduction of the AC joint. It is necessary to bend the hook angle to fit the patient's AC joint to achieve accurate reduction.