Additive manufacturing of custom orthoses and prostheses-A review

This study reviews the progress of using additive manufacturing (AM) for custom orthoses and prostheses (O&P) in the past 25 years. Foot orthoses (FOs), ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), and prosthetic sockets are the most common types of O&P that are custom fabricated. A brief introduction to traditional plaster molding fabrication techniques for custom O&P are given for FO, AFO, and prosthetic sockets, followed by the AM process. Prior studies on AM of FOs, AFOs, and prosthetics sockets are reviewed. Applications of AM for other types of O&P are also presented. Lastly, future trends and challenges for adoption of AM for fabrication of O&P in clinical settings are discussed. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.