An Overview to Three-Dimensional Printing Process and Creating a Custom Orthopaedic Medical Device

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is also referred to as additive manufacturing or rapid prototyping. During its evolution, it was designed to create prototypes/models for industries in a more economically and timely manner in respect to conventional mass production. It was created to change from the normal industrial casting or machining of the products in mass numbers to a more tailored/customized product. 3DP in orthopaedics started out printing anatomic models and then evolved into printing surgical cutting guides and jigs. Today, in orthopaedics, we print patient-specific implants. This article will be a brief overview of the available 3DP methods, the process, materials, applications in orthopaedics, and an orthopaedic case example of printed materials.