Page 146 - IJB-8-1

3D Printed Hand Splints
Table 2. Patient characteristics
Characteristic 3D group Control group
Sample size (n) 10 10
Male/female ratio 7/3 8/2
Age at inclusion in years, mean (range) 41.2 (23 – 64) 34.1 (19 – 62)
Etiology of pathology
Traumatic 9 9
Degenerative 1 1
Leading pathological condition
Fracture 8 6
Ligament injury 1 2
Tendinous injury - 1
Osteoarthritis 1 1
Treatment strategy
Conservative 6 7
Surgical 4 3
Splint type
MC brace 7 2
MC brace including the wrist 1 1
Thumb MCPJ splint 1 1
Thumb MCPJ splint including the wrist 1 1
MCPJ extension block splint - 1
Controlled active motion splint - 1
Wrist immobilizing radius splint - 1
PIPJ extension block splint - 1
Mallet finger splint (stack) - 1
MC, metacarpophalangeal; MCPJ, metacarpophalangeal joint; PIPJ, proximal interphalangeal joint.

Table 3. Patient satisfaction
Assessment item 3D group Control group
Splint fit (Questionnaire 1) 9.15 (1.11) 9.2 (0.79)
Adjustment process 9.5 (0.97) 9.6 (0.7)
(Questionnaire 1)
Satisfaction with weight of 9.6 (0.7) 9.2 (1.03)
splint (Questionnaire 1)
Overall satisfaction 8.4 (1.65) 9.2 (1.32)
(Questionnaire 3)
Numbers represent mean (standard deviation).

Table 4. Production time
3D group Control group
Scan + wound check 22 (10–40) N/A
Design 99.5 (35–240) N/A Figure 5. Partial breakage of a 3D wrist immobilizing splint.
Printing 337.7 (175–842) N/A
Post-processing 27.5 (15–60) N/A Several limitations need to be addressed, however, before
First consultation 30.5 (15–60) 39.5 (30–60) 3D-printed hand splints can be used regularly instead of
Total (printing 179.5 (85–390) 39.5 (30–60) the current thermoplastic splints.
excluded) First, our setting for the interventional 3D group
Total (printing 517.2 (274–1097) 39.5 (30–60) was not optimized compared with that for the well-
included) established in-house control group with conventional
All times are given in minutes as mean (range). N/A, not applicable. splints. Additional visits that included the patient,

132 International Journal of Bioprinting (2022)–Volume 8, Issue 1