2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (9): 1455-1461

3D printed porous tantalum metal in the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip: current status and application prospect

He Yinhao, Li Xiaosheng, Chen Hongwen, Chen Tiezhu   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip often have extensive distortion of anatomical structures such as shallow acetabulum and straight and narrow femoral canal. Especially in the face of developmental dysplasia of the hip patients with high dislocation, the implementation of surgical treatment is very challenging. In recent years, the effect and prognosis of individualized treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip with 3D printed porous tantalum metal are good. It can be used for preoperative diagnosis, preoperative surgical planning, intraoperative establishment of 3D navigation template, determination of preoperative acetabular severity and postoperative acetabular reconstruction and correction evaluation. It has a good development prospect.  
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the latest research progress of 3D printed porous tantalum metal in the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip.
METHODS:   The research data on individualized treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip by 3D printed porous tantalum metal were searched on the databases of CNKI, PubMed, MDPI, BMC Biotechnology, Web of Science, and Springer link by computer. Retrieval time was from 1970 to 2022. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 58 articles were selected for review.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Porous tantalum metal has biological and biomechanical properties such as biocompatibility, bone integration and bone inductance, which can effectively promote the growth of new bone, new blood vessels and nerves. (2) 3D printed porous tantalum is a combined application of 3D printing molding technology and natural metal materials and porous tantalum. Currently, the effectiveness of this program is mainly evaluated in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip and hip bone defects. (3) Good preoperative planning of 3D printed porous tantalum metal can effectively improve the postoperative outcomes of developmental dysplasia of the hip and hip bone defects, and prepare for the preoperative individualized planning of prosthetic implants, effectively avoid intraoperative obstacles and fully solve patient-specific malformations, and directly affect the surgical results. The application prospect is good. (4) Currently, animal models and some articles have verified the short-term efficacy of 3D-printed porous tantalum metal in the individualized treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip, but medium and long-term follow-up results are lacking.
Key words: developmental dysplasia of the hip, 3D printing, 3D printing preoperative plan, 3D printing intraoperative navigation template, 3D printing porous tantalum metal, porous tantalum metal, biomechanical property, biological characteristics, joint replacement