Upper limb loss alters individuals’ private and professional life. Prosthetic devices are thus a solution to supply the missing upper limb segments. Nevertheless, commercial prostheses are often unaffordable, or inaccessible, to underprivileged individuals (e.g., no health insurance, low incomes, warzone). Among potential affordable alternatives, additive manufacturing, commonly “3D printing”, has been increasingly employed. This technology offers higher availability and accessibility, and can produce complex geometrical and highly customized products, which are essential features for prostheses manufacturing. Therefore, this study aims to portray an overview of reliable open-source upper limb 3D-printed prostheses currently available. We thus searched the scientific literature and online repositories hosting 3D-printable designs. We extracted data relative to mechanical and kinematic properties, 3D printing process and efficacy for each device. We found six studies implementing open-source 3DP upper limb prostheses and twenty-five open-source designs from online databases meeting selection criteria. Devices’ technical specifications were not systematically reported. In conclusion, though open-source 3D-printed upper limb prostheses can perform some functional tasks and grasps, and are widely employed to supply limb differences, further research is mandatory to validate their usage and to prove their clinical efficacy. More guidelines are required to unify contributions from private makers and non-governmental organizations with scientific groups.

As 3D printing technology expands rapidly in medical disciplines, the accuracy evaluation of 3D-printed medical models is required. However, no established guidelines to assess the dimensional error of anatomical models exist. This study aims to evaluate the dimensional accuracy of medical models 3D-printed using a hospital-based Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printer. Two dissected cadaveric right hands were marked with Titanium Kirshner wires to identify landmarks on the heads and bases of all metacarpals and proximal and middle phalanges. Both hands were scanned using a Cone Beam Computed Tomography scanner. Image post-processing and segmentation were performed on 3D Slicer software. Hand models were 3D-printed using a professional hospital-based FDM 3D printer. Manual measurements of all landmarks marked on both pairs of cadaveric and 3D-printed hands were taken by two independent observers using a digital caliper. The Mean Absolute Difference (MAD) and Mean Dimensional Error (MDE) were calculated. Our results showed an acceptable level of dimensional accuracy. The overall study’s MAD was 0.32 mm (±0.34), and its MDE was 1.03% (±0.83). These values fall within the recommended range of errors. A high level of dimensional accuracy of the 3D-printed anatomical models was achieved, suggesting their reliability and suitability for medical applications.

Background: 3D printing (3DP) workflow has made its entry in the upper limb prostheses (ULP) manufacturing process. Although it represents a valuable change in clinical practice, its implementation is not ubiquitous. Additional data are required to establish recommendations and unanimously accepted guidelines to facilitate clinical application. Objectives: Our study aimed to develop and validate a web-based multilingual survey investigating the sociodemographic and technical profiles and expertise of professionals and volunteers using 3DP for manufacturing ULP. Methods: We followed a multi-stage development and validation process, including item generation, experts’ review, cognitive testing and pre-testing among the population of interest (POI). Validity evidence was accumulated at each stage, with Content Validity and Face Validity measurements. The survey was available in French, English and Spanish and distributed through the REDCAP web-based platform. Results: The validated questionnaire comprised fifty-two primary questions, organized in nine sections. Experts’ evaluations demonstrated appropriate topic coverage and a high degree of relevance throughout the survey: most single item Content Validity Indexes (CVI) ranged from 0.87 to 1 and Average CVIs for survey sections reached between 0.86 to 1. The pre-test among the POI included 42 participants and led to limited questionnaire revisions. The final version of the survey was approved unanimously by all experts. Conclusions: The newly developed web-based survey demonstrated good evidence for validity. This instrument is an acceptable tool to investigate stakeholders using 3DP for manufacturing ULP and to further establish guidelines.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a process that translates a 3D virtual model into its physical 3D replica. In medicine, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Maxillo-facial surgery were the first specialties to successfully incorporate this technology in their clinical routine, as an aid to surgical interventions. The study aimed to provide a clear overview of the potential areas of applications of 3D printing (3DP) for management of renal diseases, based on a review of the literature. Method. We carried out a review of the literature according to PRISMA recommendations. We searched three databases (Medline, Scopus and Cochrane) with two specific queries: one using MeSH-terms and the second one based on free terms, all terms were related to nephrology and three-dimensional printing technology. Results. 3D-printed models were mostly employed for the management of renal tumors and lithiasis. They provided enhanced visualization of structures and the possibility to perform procedures rehearsals which seemed to improve surgical procedures. Models were also reported to positively impact patients’ understanding of their condition and the interventions. Trainees and experienced urologists also benefited from the supportive role of 3D-printed models and reported improved confidence and efficiency. Rare reports discussed their use for kidney transplantation, ureteropelvic junction obstruction syndrome treatment, nuclear medicine or cultural issues. Due to a meager data amount and heterogeneity of studies, no advanced statistical analysis was possible. Conclusion. 3D-printed models of renal anatomical structures are feasible and are valuable tools to support renal disease management, and for educational purposes.

Objective: To determine the subjects and content of publications produced by oral and maxillofacial surgeons practicing daily in less resourced countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Materials and methods: We used two databases, PubMed and African online journals, for this literature review. We limited our research to the years 2000-2022. We have chosen the articles with the abstract and only in English or French. For each article we looked for the country of origin, the language of the article, the accessibility of the articles; the name of the newspaper, the number and type of illustrations. For each open access article, we looked for the method of payment for publication and the assignment of copyright. We found 1761 articles and finally retained 47 articles. Results: Publications from SSA countries are very rare among all publications from the African continent (47/1761= 2.6%). All selected articles were published in 33 different newspapers. 46.8% of articles were written by authors from Tanzania and Sudan. Open access articles represent the majority of published articles (59%). Closed access articles are related to Noma and articles in French. We identified only two scientific journals, African Health Sciences and South Sudan Medical Journal, which were free to readers and authors. The English language was predominant (85%). 53 images were freely accessible to illustrate all the subjects of oral and maxillofacial surgery in SSA countries. We also presented the conclusions of the articles by classifying them by subject: 1) Tumors (13 articles), 2) Traumas/maxillofacial fractures (11 articles), 3) Clefts (4 articles), 4) Infectious diseases (5 articles), 5) Cultural practices (4 articles), 6) Noma (2 articles), 7) Syndromes (5 articles), and miscellaneous subjects (3 articles). Conclusions: We presented the system of current scientific publications, the place of scientific publications and the particular aspects of publications on maxillofacial surgery in SSA countries, we proposed possible directions of publication for authors maxillofacial surgeons in SSA countries, as well as the potential place of the journal Nemesis in this African context.

Purpose: Prosthetic clinics and philanthropic organizations are increasingly using additive manufacturing (AM) to manufacture upper-limb prostheses (ULP). However, a lack of documented use cases and guidelines hinders its broader implementation. Additional data are required to establish recommendations. This exploratory study aims to investigate the sociodemographics and expertise of individuals using AM to manufacture ULP. Methods: An international cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted from October 1st, 2023, to June 30th, 2024. Participants were recruited using non-probability sampling through specialized online channels. We collected sociodemographic data and explored AM ULP manufacturing workflows and outcomes. The survey was available in French, English, and Spanish. Survey data underwent descriptive analyses. Results: Of 111 participants who started the survey, 61 (55%) completed it. Participants included aid organizations members (40%), prosthetists (37%), and other related professions (23%), with up to 5 years (60%) of AM experience. Active (56%) ULP were predominantly manufactured using Fused Filament Fabrication (84%) with polylactic acid (77%) material. Poor digital customization skills represented the main barrier to 3D production. Functionality and reliability of AM ULP parts represent major limitations in 3D devices studied. Conclusion: Although additive manufacturing offers significant technological advantages for the production of upper-limb prostheses, human (e.g., digital skills, training) and technical (e.g., mechanical performance of materials) barriers can hinder its implementation and clinical relevance. Further studies, endorsed by official institutions, are warranted to establish guidelines for each subgroup of stakeholders to manufacture optimal ULP using AM.