THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING IN RHEUMATIC AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES: RHEUMATOLOGY-FIRST APPLICATIONS FROM PREOPERATIVE PLANNING TO PATIENT OPTIMIZATION AND PERSONALIZED DEVICES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5379Keywords:
3D Printing, Additive Manufacturing, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis, Patient-Specific Instrumentation, OrthosesAbstract
Objectives. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is expanding in musculoskeletal care, but its value in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA) and related rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) is supported by uneven evidence. We reviewed rheumatology-first applications, emphasizing anatomical models, patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) and selected custom devices, personalized orthoses and perioperative risk modification.
Materials and Methods. Narrative clinical review informed by a structured PubMed/MEDLINE search (last search 22 February 2026) plus reference-list hand searching. Systematic reviews, controlled studies and clinically relevant case series were prioritized. Relevant non-RMD musculoskeletal evidence was included and labeled as indirect.
Outcomes. 3D printing most consistently supports procedural preparation (visualization, rehearsal, templating) and can improve technical accuracy in selected complex reconstructions using PSI. Personalized orthoses and assistive devices enable rapid customization that may improve comfort and adherence. Evidence is strongest for process endpoints. Long-term patient-reported outcomes and cost-effectiveness remain uncertain, particularly in RA/SpA cohorts. Safe use depends on clear intended use, segmentation quality assurance and traceability, and alignment with medication and infection-risk management.
Conclusions. In inflammatory arthritis care, 3D printing adds most when embedded within multidisciplinary governance and perioperative optimization. Priorities include RMD-specific comparative studies and standardized reporting of workflows and implementation outcomes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Natalia Sara Kuśmierowska, Monika Kuś, Grzegorz Słomkowski, Milena Polak, Tymoteusz Białowąs, Dominika Karolak, Magdalena Nowak, Konrad Wiśniewski, Daria Valipur Kolti, Kacper Cholewiński
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