Study on 3D Printed Brace for Phalangeal Fractures
Lu Liangliang
Shi Tingchun
Yu Yun
Yue Xiuyan
Abstract：Objective To study a customized elastic brace with unequal rigidity,and which accords with the biomechanics of the human hands.Methods The CT data of a 24-year-old female with phalanx fracture were obtained clinically.The phalangeal fracture brace was obtained with the help of the 3D reconstruction of the medical image,the computer aided design,the finite element analysis (FEA) and 3 D printing.Results The exact biomechanical performance indicators of the external fixator was obtained via FEA.The results showed that 1cm2 surface of the brace could withstand 49 N external impact without any re-injury to the fracture site.The linear TPU material was used to rapidly form the phalangeal fracture brace and a set of optimal 3 D printing parameters matching the material were obtained.Conclusion The brace not only matched the shape of the defected finger,but also the fracture site,thus achieved the accurate and precise fixation of the fracture site of the phalanx.The brace has a number of advantages in permeability,wearing comfort and appearance,etc.And a variety of defects were solved such as the poor permeability of gypsum fixation in the field of external fixation,the unstable polymer bandage fixation and the compression of edge of the skin by splint.
Keywords：phalangeal fracturesbiomechanicsbracethree-dimensional reconstructionfinite element analysis3D printing
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 263-269 )