Shelf acetabuloplasty is a viable treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), yet autologous bone grafts have faced challenges such as morphological mismatch, imprecise placement, and long-term graft resorption. The rapid advancement of 3D printing technology in orthopedics has enabled the acquisition of digital image correlation method (DICM) data from patient pelvic to bilateral femoral proximal regions through computed tomography (CT) scans. These data are then utilized by software to create 3D models and design individualized metal implants. Using tantalum-based type I (TA1) spherical powder as the raw material, a porous tantalum buttress with a pore size of 600 microns and a porosity of 75% was fabricated employing the selective electron beam melting (SEBM) technology. Our Center has applied this 3D-printed individualized porous tantalum buttress in shelf acetabuloplasty for 21 DDH patients (25 hips), including 6 males and 15 females, with a mean age of 21.38 ± 7.39 years. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 47 months, averaging 22.64 ± 10.86 months. At the final follow-up, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were used to assess the patient’s subjective feelings. Significant improvements were observed in the Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Subscale (HOS-SSS), International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) compared with preoperative levels (p < 0.01). Radiographic assessments indicated that the postoperative lateral centeredge (LCE) angle, Tonnis angle, acetabular angle (Sharp’s angle), and femoral head coverage all trended towards normal, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.01). There was no implant displacement or bone resorption in any case, and no progression in Tonnis grading for hip osteoarthritis (OA) was noted postoperatively, with an 84% patient satisfaction rate. The early follow-up results of 3D-printed individualized porous tantalum buttress in shelf acetabuloplasty are satisfactory, indicating a reliable application prospect for the treatment of DDH patients.

Purpose: Bone void fillers are essential for successful outcomes in opening‐wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO), a procedure that corrects varus knee misalignment and alleviates medial compartment pain. However, the best filler for OWHTO is still uncertain. This study compared the clinical and radiographic results of using three‐dimensional‐printed (3DP) porous tantalum wedges versus allogeneic chip bone as fillers in OWHTO, aiming to provide a reference for clinical decision‐making. Methods: This exploratory‐retrospective matched‐cohort consecutively enrolled study included 20 patients (10 per group) who were treated between January 2020 and December 2022, with Group A (3DP porous tantalum) selected from a large trial and Group B (allogeneic chip bone) matched by age, gender, and varus severity. Inclusion criteria: young, active patients with tibial varus and complete follow‐up; exclusions: knee infection, instability, contracture, dislocation, or pan‐compartmental osteoarthritis. Postoperatively, early full‐weight‐bearing rehabilitation was applied, with follow‐ups at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and annually. Primary outcome: bone healing (modified van Hemert score, standing radiographs). Secondary outcomes: hospital for special surgery knee score (HSS), visual analogue scale (VAS), time to full‐weight‐bearing walking, and radiographic parameters (joint line convergence angle [JLCA], femur‐tibia angle [FTA], hip–knee–ankle angle [HKA], mechanical medial proximal tibial angle [mMPTA], mechanical axis deviation [MAD], weight‐bearing line [WBL] ratio, posterior tibial slope [PTS]). Postoperative complications were recorded and compared between both groups. Statistical analyses used the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous data and the chi‐square test for categorical data. Results: Mean age was 48.7 ± 3.9 years, with a mean follow‐up of 50.0 ± 7.0 months (range: 29.4–59.0). Group A had significantly higher bone healing scores at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months (3.0 ± 0.8 vs. 1.6 ± 1.0, 3.4 ± 0.5 vs. 2.0 ± 0.9, 4.3 ± 0.5 vs. 2.9 ± 0.9, respectively, all p < 0.01), with no difference at 1 year (4.8 ± 0.4 vs. 4.4 ± 0.5, p = 0.075). Time to full‐weight‐bearing walking was significantly shorter in Group A (18.7 ± 3.2 vs. 54.4 ± 15.3 days; p < 0.001). Both groups showed significant postoperative improvements in VAS, HSS scores, and radiographic parameters (MAD, WBL ratio, mMPTA, HKA; all p < 0.01 vs. preoperative values), with no intergroup differences in these metrics (preoperative or postoperative). Overall complication rates were similar (20% vs. 60%; p = 0.074), but Group A had a lower incidence of delayed union (0% vs. 40%; p = 0.011). The statistical power for 1‐year bone union grades was 0.65 (G*Power, effect size = 0.883). Conclusion: 3DP porous tantalum wedges in OWHTO accelerate bone healing (up to 6 months), reduce time to full‐weight‐bearing walking, and lower delayed union rates compared to allogeneic chip bone, thereby establishing them as a promising option for future surgical interventions. Further large‐scale, long‐term trials are needed to confirm these benefits.

Objective: To compare the surgical feasibility and safety of three approaches (anterior, transgluteal, posterior) for constructing a porcine model of irreparable acetabular labral tear. Methods: After a cadaveric anatomical exploration in two pigs to define feasible corridors, 36 male Chinese miniature pigs were randomized (1:1:1) to anterior, transgluteal, or posterior approaches for model construction and labral reconstruction. Primary intraoperative outcomes were blood loss, operative time, and a 0–10 surgical exposure score; postoperative complications and survival were assessed over 3 months. Results: The anterior approach showed greater blood loss and longer operative time than posterior and transgluteal (both p < 0.001), while exposure was worst with anterior ( p < 0.001) and only trended better with transgluteal versus posterior ( p = 0.056). Postoperative events included sciatic nerve‐related claudication (4/12 posterior), acetabular chondral lesions (3/12 anterior), and poor wound healing (4/12 anterior; 2/12 posterior). One‐month survival was lower in anterior versus transgluteal ( p = 0.025), with most deaths within 2 weeks; 2‐ and 3‐month survival were also lower for anterior versus transgluteal ( p = 0.026; p = 0.011). At 2 months, survival was lower in anterior versus posterior ( p = 0.011). Conclusion: The transgluteal approach appears to be a relatively safe and effective option for constructing porcine hip models; nevertheless, conclusions should be interpreted with caution given the undetermined mortality etiology in the anterior group.

To evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of a novel partial unicondylar arthroplasty (PUCA) using a three-dimensional-printed (3DP) porous tantalu