3D Printing in Otolaryngology Surgery: Descriptive Review of Literature to Define the State of the Art

Overview

Journal Healthcare (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2023 Jan 8

PMID 36611568

Authors

Federica Zoccali

Andrea Colizza

Fabrizio Cialente

Arianna Di Stadio

Ignazio La Mantia

Charlie Hanna

Antonio Minni

Massimo Ralli

Antonio Greco

Marco de Vincentiis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has allowed great progression in the medical field. In otolaryngology practice, 3D printing can be used for planning in case of malformation/complex surgery, for surgeon training, and for recreating missing tissues. This systematic review aimed to summarize the current benefits and the possible future application of 3D technologies in the otolaryngology field.

Methods: A systematic review of articles that discuss the use of 3D printing in the otolaryngology field was performed. All publications without the restriction of time and that were published by December 2021 in the English language were included. Searches were performed in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase databases. Keywords used were: "3D printing", "bioprinting", "three-dimensional printing", "tissue engineering" in combination with the terms: "head and neck surgery", "head and neck reconstruction", "otology", "rhinology", "laryngology", and "otolaryngology".

Results: Ninety-one articles were included in this systematic review. The articles describe the clinical application of 3D printing in different fields of otolaryngology, from otology to pediatric otolaryngology. The main uses of 3D printing technology discussed in the articles included in the review were surgical planning in temporal bone malformation, the reconstruction of missing body parts after oncologic surgery, allowing for medical training, and providing better information to patients.

Conclusion: The use of 3D printing in otolaryngology practice is constantly growing. However, available evidence is still limited, and further studies are needed to better evaluate the benefits of this technology.

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