APPLICATION OF 3-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING TECHNOLOGY IN THE TREATMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE NONUNION OF FEMORAL NECK FRACTURE: A CASE REPORT

BAOZHE LİU, HAİLUN GU, YAFENG LİU

Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica - 2023;57(2):78-84

Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China

 

Nonunion of the femoral neck represents the main complication following fractures at this location. Few studies have documented the application of 3-dimensional printing technology for the surgical treatment of postoperative nonunion of femoral neck fractures. The present manuscript describes a case of a particular 3-dimensional printing technology method for designing a custom-made guide plate for revision surgery. A 46-year-old man suffered a nonunion of the femoral neck following an internal fracture fixation. Using 3-dimensional printing technology, we preoperatively printed a femur model and a custom-made guide plate. Using the model, we performed a simulated operation before the surgery, and the guide plate was used for accurate osteotomy during the operation. With this method, we achieved the desired results: the fracture healed, the operation time was shortened, and there was no femoral head necrosis. Our case suggests that 3-dimensional printing technology provides an effective aid in the treatment of patients with nonunion following a femoral neck fracture and recommends 3-dimensional printing technology for such cases.