Published online May 18, 2021. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v12.i5.338
Peer-review started: March 5, 2021
First decision: March 31, 2021
Revised: April 12, 2021
Accepted: April 23, 2021
Article in press: April 23, 2021
Published online: May 18, 2021
Processing time: 68 Days and 5.6 Hours
Recently, medical three-dimensional printing technology (3DPT) has demonstrated potential benefits for the treatment of cubitus varus deformity (CVD) by improving accuracy of the osteotomy through the use of an osteotomy guide, with or without a patient-mated plate. Here, we present an interesting CVD case, involving a patient who was treated with corrective biplanar chevron osteotomy using an innovative customized osteotomy guide and a newly designed patient-matched monoblock crosslink plate created with 3DPT.
A 32-year-old female presented with a significant CVD from childhood injury. A computer simulation was processed using images from computerized tomography scans of both upper extremities. The biplanar chevron osteotomy was designed to create identical anatomy between the mirror image of the contralateral distal humerus and the osteotomized distal humerus. Next, the customized osteotomy guide and patient-matched monoblock crosslink plate were designed and printed. A simulation osteotomy was created for the real-sized bone model, and the operation was performed using the posterior paratricipital approach with k-wire positioning from the customized osteotomy guide as a predrilled hole for screw fixation to achieve immediate control of the reduction after osteotomy. Our method allowed for successful treatment of the CVD case, significantly improving the patient’s radiographic and clinical outcomes, with satisfactory result.
3DPT-created patient-matched osteotomy guide and instrumentation provides accurate control during CVD correction.
Core Tip: To the best of our knowledge, this case report introduces a new insight for the clinical application of three-dimensional printing technology in the treatment of cubitus varus deformity. Successful outcome of cubitus varus deformity correction is dependent upon precise preoperative planning and the accuracy of osteotomy and fixation. The treatment procedure itself can be performed safely, with high chance of alignment correction by means of three-dimensional printing technology to generate a well-designed customized osteotomy guide and patient-matched plate.