Acad Radiol. 2025 Dec 19:S1076-6332(25)01118-3. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2025.11.035. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the utility of 3D technologies in a high complexity medical school hospital in Latin America, focusing on three key scenarios: preoperative clinical case planning, clinical education, and development of clinical tools.
METHODS: A prospective descriptive cohort study was conducted at the hospital between June 2022 and December 2023. The Center for 3D Modeling and Printing at the institution assessed the role of 3D technologies in the three scenarios identified. The utility of the 3D-printed or computational 3D models was assessed using Likert-scale surveys, clinical outcomes, and feedback from medical staff.
RESULTS: During the study period, 56 referred cases were analyzed. Of these, 75% were for preoperative planning, 3.6% for clinical education, and 21.4% for tool design. In preoperative planning, 26 surgical models were developed (76.9% 3D-printed and 23.1% digital), mainly for cardiovascular cases (53.8%). Physicians reported improvements in surgical decision-making, morphological understanding, and complication prediction (p < 0.01). Patients with previous unsuccessful surgeries showed reduced hospital stays (36%, from 10.75 to 6.88 days) and surgical times (9.8%, from 347.1 to 313.0 min). In educational use, 3D models improved learning over 2D conventional methods. Additionally, 3D-printed tools and devices were developed to meet specific needs across hospital services, demonstrating applications beyond direct patient care.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the potential of 3D technologies to enhance clinical workflows in different scenarios, particularly for limited-resource settings. Future efforts should focus on evaluating cost-effectiveness and measuring impact in specific procedures.
PMID:41421881 | DOI:10.1016/j.acra.2025.11.035