RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE
Three-dimensional (3D) printed anatomic models and surgical guides have been shown
to reduce operative time. The purpose of this study was to generate an economic analysis
of the cost-saving potential of 3D printed anatomic models and surgical guides in
orthopedic and maxillofacial surgical applications.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A targeted literature search identified operating room cost-per-minute and studies
that quantified time saved using 3D printed constructs. Studies that reported operative
time differences due to 3D printed anatomic models or surgical guides were reviewed
and cataloged. A mean of $62 per operating room minute (range of $22–$133 per minute)
was used as the reference standard for operating room time cost. Different financial
scenarios were modeled with the provided cost-per-minute of operating room time (using
high, mean, and low values) and mean time saved using 3D printed constructs.
RESULTS
Seven studies using 3D printed anatomic models in surgical care demonstrated a mean
62 minutes ($3720/case saved from reduced time) of time saved, and 25 studies of 3D
printed surgical guides demonstrated a mean 23 minutes time saved ($1488/case saved
from reduced time). An estimated 63 models or guides per year (or 1.2/week) were predicted
to be the minimum number to breakeven and account for annual fixed costs.
CONCLUSION
Based on the literature-based financial analyses, medical 3D printing appears to reduce
operating room costs secondary to shortening procedure times. While resource-intensive,
3D printed constructs used in patients’ operative care provides considerable downstream
value to health systems.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 18, 2019
Accepted:
August 26,
2019
Received in revised form:
August 20,
2019
Received:
May 4,
2019
Footnotes
Funding: DHB receives salary support from National Institutes of Health TOP-TIER grant T32-EB021955. JAW is a co-inventor of patent application: “Methods and Devices For Three-Dimensional Printing Or Additive Manufacturing Of Bioactive Medical Devices,” Application number US14822275; this is not discussed in the current manuscript. FJR is the Medical Director of Imagia Cybernetics.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
