TY - JOUR
T1 - Automated 3D-printed finger orthosis versus manual orthosis preparation by occupational therapy students
T2 - Preparation time, product weight, and user satisfaction
AU - Portnoy, Sigal
AU - Barmin, Nina
AU - Elimelech, Maayan
AU - Assaly, Balsam
AU - Oren, Simma
AU - Shanan, Reem
AU - Levanon, Yafa
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Hanley & Belfus
PY - 2020/4/1
Y1 - 2020/4/1
N2 - Study design: Intra-subject cross-sectional study. Introduction: Upper limb injuries often require wearing an orthosis. Today, orthoses are custom-made by the clinician or purchased as an off-shelf product. Although 3D printing is a popular solution, the design and adjustment of an orthosis model according to patient-specific anatomy requires technical expertise, often unavailable to the clinicians. Purpose of the study: (1) To create a software that receives input of anatomic dimensions of the finger and automatically adjusts an orthosis model for patient-specific 3D printing and (2) to compare preparation time, product weight, and user satisfaction of occupational therapy students between the manual method and the automatic 3D printing method. Methods: A custom code allows the user to measure five anatomic measurements of the finger. The code adjusts a swan-neck orthosis model according to the patient-specific measurements, and a fitted resized 3D-printable file is produced. We recruited 36 occupational therapy students (age 25.4 ± 1.9 years). They prepared two swan-neck orthoses for a finger of a rubber mannequin: one manually using a thermoplastic material and the other by 3D printing. The preparation time and orthosis weight were measured, and the subjects filled out a user satisfaction questionnaire. Results: The weight of the 3D-printed orthosis was significantly lower than that of the manual orthosis; however, the preparation time was longer. The subjects were more satisfied with the fit, esthetics, overall process, and product of the 3D-printed orthosis. Conclusion: The creation of an automated software for the patient-specific adjustment of orthoses for 3D printing can be the missing link for integration of 3D printing in the clinics.
AB - Study design: Intra-subject cross-sectional study. Introduction: Upper limb injuries often require wearing an orthosis. Today, orthoses are custom-made by the clinician or purchased as an off-shelf product. Although 3D printing is a popular solution, the design and adjustment of an orthosis model according to patient-specific anatomy requires technical expertise, often unavailable to the clinicians. Purpose of the study: (1) To create a software that receives input of anatomic dimensions of the finger and automatically adjusts an orthosis model for patient-specific 3D printing and (2) to compare preparation time, product weight, and user satisfaction of occupational therapy students between the manual method and the automatic 3D printing method. Methods: A custom code allows the user to measure five anatomic measurements of the finger. The code adjusts a swan-neck orthosis model according to the patient-specific measurements, and a fitted resized 3D-printable file is produced. We recruited 36 occupational therapy students (age 25.4 ± 1.9 years). They prepared two swan-neck orthoses for a finger of a rubber mannequin: one manually using a thermoplastic material and the other by 3D printing. The preparation time and orthosis weight were measured, and the subjects filled out a user satisfaction questionnaire. Results: The weight of the 3D-printed orthosis was significantly lower than that of the manual orthosis; however, the preparation time was longer. The subjects were more satisfied with the fit, esthetics, overall process, and product of the 3D-printed orthosis. Conclusion: The creation of an automated software for the patient-specific adjustment of orthoses for 3D printing can be the missing link for integration of 3D printing in the clinics.
KW - 3D printing
KW - Occupational therapy
KW - Swan-neck deformity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084599399&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jht.2020.03.022
DO - 10.1016/j.jht.2020.03.022
M3 - Article
C2 - 32423844
AN - SCOPUS:85084599399
SN - 0894-1130
VL - 33
SP - 174
EP - 179
JO - Journal of Hand Therapy
JF - Journal of Hand Therapy
IS - 2
ER -