Objective To explore the application feasibility of 3D printing and virtual surgery design in the treatment of acetabular fractures from both basic and clinical aspects.

MethodsThirty-six patients with acetabular fractures were selected in the basic part, and 13 patients with acetabular fractures were selected in the clinical part.The 3D printing combined with preoperative virtual surgery design was applied.The three-dimensional reconstruction, virtual fracture fragments separation, virtual surgical reduction and virtual internal fixation implantation were performed according to pelvic thin-slice CT scan data of acetabular fracture patients to simulate acetabular fracture surgery for developing a personalized surgical plan for patients to conduct clinical surgical treatment.

Results A high-precision virtual reduction model was successfully obtained according to the patient′s pelvic thin-slice CT scan data.The fracture block separation, reduction, internal fixation implantation and other steps were virtually simulated to determine the plate placement position, screw implantation direction and screw implantation length.The individualized and optimized surgical program were drawn up, the 3D simulation surgery was completed by combining with virtual surgery design.In the basic experimental part, the patient′s steel plate position and screw direction were highly consistent with the digital design.The difference of the screw length between virtual surgery design and 3D simulation surgery was not statistically significant(P>0.05).In the clinical experiment, the operations in some patients were successfully completed according to the virtual surgery design, the positions and quantities of the plates and screws were highly consistent with the virtual surgery design, and the difference in the length of screw between the virtual surgery design and clinical operation was not statistically significant(P>0.05).

ConclusionsThe 3D printing and virtual surgery design can provide the optimal and personalized surgical solutions for patients with acetabular fractures, which can effectively improve the accuracy and safety of surgery, the application feasibility is high.