Meta-analysis of application effect of 3D-printed artificial vertebral bodies in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion

Wu Ronghai; Zheng Zhouhang; Chen Huan; You Dongchun; Guo Weifeng; Liu Xingming; Zhang Yu

doi:10.12307/2026.698

Abstract：OBJECTIVE:In recent years,many scholars have applied 3D-printed artificial vertebrae to anterior cervical vertebral subtotal vertebral resection and bone grafting fusion,but whether it is more effective than traditional titanium cages remains controversial.This study aims to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 3D-printed artificial vertebrae compared with traditional titanium cages as implants for anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion in the treatment of spondylosis. METHODS:Databases such as CNKI,WangFang,CBM,VIP,PubMed,EMBASE,and The Cochrane Library were searched to collect the clinical research on the application of 3D-printed artificial vertebrae in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion from the establishment of each database to February 2025.After screening the literature,extracting the data and evaluating the methodological quality of the included studies,the meta-analysis was performed using Rev Man 5.4. RESULTS:(1)A total of 10 articles were included,including 2 prospective randomized controlled studies,6 retrospective cohort studies,and 2 prospective cohort studies all of which were high-quality studies.The included literature comprised a total of 534 patients,including 273 in the 3D printing group and 261 in the control group.(2)The results of the meta-analysis showed that operation time[SMD=-1.13,95%CI(-1.87,-0.39),P=0.003],the loss of disc height at the last follow-up[SMD=-3.01,95%CI(-5.74,-0.29),P=0.03],the Neck Disability Index score(postoperative 3 months)[SMD=-0.34,95%CI(-0.66,-0.03),P=0.03],the prosthesis subsidence rate[OR=0.19,95%CI(0.11,0.32),P<0.000 01],and the incidence of postoperative dysphagia[OR=0.43,95%CI(0.21,0.90),P=0.03]were better in the 3D printing group than those in the control group,with significant differences.There was no statistically significant difference in the amount of intraoperative blood loss,hospital stay,postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,postoperative Visual Analog Scale score,postoperative Neck Disability Index score(6 months after surgery,at the last follow-up),and the rate of vertebral fusion between the two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION:Compared with traditional titanium cages,3D-printed artificial vertebrae have obvious advantages in improving surgical efficiency,maintaining postoperative intervertebral height,reducing the incidence of postoperative swallowing discomfort and titanium cage subsidence.