Chest-wall reconstruction with a customized titanium-alloy prosthesis fabricated by 3D printing and rapid prototyping

• Main Authors: Xiaopeng Wen, Shan Gao, Jinteng Feng, Shuo Li, Rui Gao, Guangjian Zhang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Subjects: 3D printing; Titanium-alloy prosthesis; Chest-wall bony defect; Rapid prototyping
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13019-017-0692-3

Abstract Background As 3D printing technology emerge, there is increasing demand for a more customizable implant in the repair of chest-wall bony defects. This article aims to present a custom design and fabrication method for repairing bony defects of the chest wall following tumour resection, which utilizes three-dimensional (3D) printing and rapid-prototyping technology. Methods A 3D model of the bony defect was generated after acquiring helical CT data. A customized prosthesis was then designed using computer-aided design (CAD) and mirroring technology, and fabricated using titanium-alloy powder. The mechanical properties of the printed prosthesis were investigated using ANSYS software. Results The yield strength of the titanium-alloy prosthesis was 950 ± 14 MPa (mean ± SD), and its ultimate strength was 1005 ± 26 MPa. The 3D finite element analyses revealed that the equivalent stress distribution of each prosthesis was unifrom. The symmetry and reconstruction quality contour of the repaired chest wall was satisfactory. No rejection or infection occurred during the 6-month follow-up period. Conclusion Chest-wall reconstruction with a customized titanium-alloy prosthesis is a reliable technique for repairing bony defects.