Abstract
Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) was designed to improve the accuracy of preoperative
planning and postoperative prosthesis positioning in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
However, better understanding needs to be achieved due to the subtle nature of the
PSI systems. In this study, 3D printing technique based on the image data of computed
tomography (CT) has been utilized for optimal controlling of the surgical parameters.
Two groups of TKA cases have been randomly selected as PSI group and control group
with no significant difference of age and sex (p > 0.05). The PSI group is treated with 3D printed cutting guides whereas the control
group is treated with conventional instrumentation (CI). By evaluating the proximal
osteotomy amount, distal osteotomy amount, valgus angle, external rotation angle,
and tibial posterior slope angle of patients, it can be found that the preoperative
quantitative assessment and intraoperative changes can be controlled with PSI whereas
CI is relied on experience. In terms of postoperative parameters, such as hip-knee-ankle
(HKA), frontal femoral component (FFC), frontal tibial component (FTC), and lateral
tibial component (LTC) angles, there is a significant improvement in achieving the
desired implant position (p < 0.05). Assigned from the morphology of patients' knees, the PSI represents the
convergence of congruent designs with current personalized treatment tools. The PSI
can achieve less extremity alignment and greater accuracy of prosthesis implantation
compared against control method, which indicates potential for optimal HKA, FFC, and
FTC angles.
Keywords
patient-specific instrumentation - total knee arthroplasty - 3D printing
