Three-Dimensional Printing in Plastic Surgery: An Era of Innovation, Analysis, and Anticipation

Purpose: There is a paucity of literature that thoroughly examines the utility of 3D printing in plastic surgery. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive review of the evolution, applications, and emerging trends of 3D printing in plastic surgery.

Methods: We utilized Lingo3G, a cluster analysis software, to analyze 5,924 publications sourced from PubMed from 2015 to 2022. Included papers were selected utilizing 65 MeSH terms related to technological innovations, materials, techniques, challenges, and clinical applications of 3D printing within plastic surgery. Utilizing ChatGPT-4 Advanced Data Analytics, we conducted thematic and temporal analyses of common and topic-focused keywords to identify prevalent trends and evolution in the field. Findings were corroborated with manual review.

Results: An increase in the volume of publications in plastic surgery related to 3D printing was observed over the years 2015 (58 articles) to 2022 (2,114 articles). Keyword analysis revealed frequent association of 3D printing with tissue engineering, additive manufacturing, scaffold creation, and bioprinting purposes. Notably, the fields of tissue engineering and bioprinting exhibited significant growth in research focus. The application of 3D printing technology was found to be extensive across various anatomical areas, including hand, breast, and craniofacial regions, with predominant uses in maxillary, orbital, and mandibular regions. In terms of the materials used for 3D printing, there was a marked preference for polymer and ceramic filaments compared to metal and resin materials. Clinically, the data revealed a significant increase in the use of 3D printing, particularly for the development of patient-tailored implants and intraoperative planning.

Conclusions: Our review highlights the evolving role of 3D printing in plastic surgery. The integration of 3D printing in plastic surgery has contributed to the push for precision medicine through innovation allowing for advances in implant and reconstruction customization.1 Over the span from 2015 to 2022, the integration of 3D printing technology into plastic surgery has led to transformative innovations characterized by enhanced precision, customization, and patient outcomes.1 The advancements in the field, particularly in the development of patient-tailored implants, surgical guides, and tissue scaffolds, demonstrate potential to streamline surgical procedures, introduce longer-term cost efficiencies, and possibly enhance outcomes.1,2,3 Our temporal analysis showed notable shifts in focus on themes such as implant technology, anatomical applications, and clinical utilization. As technology continues to evolve and mature, it appears increasingly likely that areas currently viewed as experimental, such as bioprinting and tissue engineering, may soon become integral and standard components of clinical practice in plastic surgery.

References:
1. Singh TS, Bhola N, Amit Reche. The Utility of 3D Printing for Surgical Planning and Patient-Specific Implant Design in Maxillofacial Surgery: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2023;15(11). doi:https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.48242

2. Han Ick Park, Lee JH, Sang Jin Lee. The comprehensive on-demand 3D bio-printing for composite reconstruction of mandibular defects. Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022;44(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40902-022-00361-7

3. Darwich K, Ismail MB, Al-Mozaiek MYAS, Alhelwani A. Reconstruction of mandible using a computer-designed 3D-printed patient-specific titanium implant: a case report. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2020;25(1):103-111. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10006-020-00889-w

Research and Technology

PSTM 2024