Custom-Made 3D-Printed Implants as Novel Approach to Reconstructive Surgery after Oncologic Resection in Pediatric Patients

Recently, custom-made 3D-printed prostheses have been introduced for limb salvage surgery in adult patients, but their use has not been described in pediatric patients. A series of 11 pediatric patients (mean age 10.8 years; range 2-13) with skeletal tumors treated with custom-made implants for the reconstruction of bony defects is described. Patients were followed up every 3 months. Functional results were evaluated by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score (MSTS) for upper and lower limbs. The mean follow-up was 25.7 months (range 14-44). Three patients died after a mean of 19.3 months postoperatively-two because of disease progression and the other from a previous malignancy. Three patients experienced complications related to soft tissues. One patient required device removal, debridement, and antibiotic pearls for postoperative infection. Partial osseointegration between grafts and host bone was observed within a mean of 4 months. At the final follow-up, mean MSTS score was 75%. 3D prostheses may yield biological advantages due to possible integration with the host bone and also through the use of vascularized flaps. Further research is warranted.

Automated summary

This study described the use of custom-made implants for reconstruction of bony defects in pediatric patients with skeletal tumors, showing good functional outcomes but also cases of patient death and complications. Further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of 3D prostheses for pediatric limb salvage surgery.