Abstract
PurposeTo research the possibility of designing customized 3D printing fingerboard to apply to the limb rehabilitation of cerebral stroke patients as well as the prevention and treatment of finger spasm, through 3D printing technology.MethodsTaking 18 hospitalized cerebral stroke patients for example, through scanning, molding and printing, to make and wear 3D printing fingerboard for them, and then observe the compliance, main complaint, muscular tension of affected hand and changes on range of motion after they wear the fingerboard for 3 weeks and 3 months.ResultsHave acquired completed data from 13 patients. The time of them wearing the fingerboard every day varied from 1 to 8 h, and most of them reflected that they felt comfortable and there was no feeling of worsened pain or finger skin allergy. In addition, the patients’ grip strength, hand function and range of motion improved by varying degrees while their muscular tensions declined by varying degrees. The tension and bending resistance of the fingerboard all met the patients’ treatment requirements.ConclusionsWith the advantages of being accurate and customized, 3D printing fingerboard can benefit patients fixing and orthopedic treatment, and even prevent and treat cerebral stroke patient’s finger spasm.Trial registration The research topic has been registered in Chinese Clinic Trial Registry. Registration time: January 15, 2016. Registration topic: The Use of 3D Printing Technology in the Orthotic of Extremity Rehabilitation of Stroke Patient. Registration Number: ChiCTR-INR-16007774
Highlights
In terms of the application of traditional fingerboard on cerebral stroke patients, there have been defects such as inaccurate size and less customized design, which results in the fact that patients can’t wear it comfortably and that the treatment can hardly be continuous
Example patients Taking 18 cerebral stroke patients hospitalized in our hospital during January to October 2016, whose conditions were in accordance with the cerebrovascular disease diagnostic criteria set on the 4th National cerebrovascular disease seminar in 1995 and verified by head CT or MRI
Patients’ conditions 18 patients wore the fingerboards and received an assessment after 3 weeks. 3 patients didn’t keep wearing to the end, among which 1 patient had depression and refused any rehabilitation treatment, 1 patient got shoulder-hand syndrome, feeling swelling on hand and refusing to wear, the other 1 patient felt that the spasm alleviated and didn’t wear anymore; in the assessment done after 3 months, 1 patient didn’t wear since the cerebral stroke recurred, 1 patient lost contact and the other 13 patients gave completed data
Summary
In terms of the application of traditional fingerboard on cerebral stroke patients, there have been defects such as inaccurate size and less customized design, which results in the fact that patients can’t wear it comfortably and that the treatment can hardly be continuous. As the development of 3D printing technology, its application on rehabilitation auxiliary brace becomes possible [1,2,3]. 3D printing fingerboard can treat cerebral stroke patient’s hand-spasm more effectively since it is more customized and more comfortable to. Wang et al BioMed Eng OnLine (2018) 17:92 wear. Further research should be done on whether this technology is reliable and whether the fingerboard can meet the requirement of clinic rehabilitation treatment
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