3D Printing Technology for Chest Wall Reconstruction With a Sternum-Ribs-Cartilage Titanium Implant: From Ideation to Creation.

Objective: We describe the use of 3-dimensional (3D) printing technology to plan and reconstruct the sternum, adjoining cartilages, and ribs with a custom-made, anatomically designed, 3D-printed titanium implant for an isolated sternal metastasis complicated with a pathological fracture.

Methods: We imported submillimeter slice computed tomography scan data into Mimics Medical 20.0 software and by manual bone threshold segmentation created a 3D virtual model of the patient's chest wall and tumor.

Chest wall reconstruction with an anatomically designed 3-D printed titanium ribs and hemi-sternum implant.

Background: Chest wall resection following wide local excision for bone tumor results in a large defect. Reconstructing this defect is complex and requires skeletal and soft tissue reconstruction. We describe the reconstruction of a large skeletal defect with a three-dimensional (3-D) printed custom-made, anatomically designed, titanium alloy ribs and hemi-sternum implant.

Development and surgical application of a custom implant that enables a vertical vector of mandibular distraction.

Hemifacial microsomia is a congenital malformation that involves the underdevelopment of the mandible and the ear leading to facial asymmetry. Distraction osteogenesis is the gold standard surgical procedure for severe cases of hemifacial microsomia in which two sectioned bone parts are lengthened gradually to promote bony infill. The final shape of the bone depends on the position of the distractor and the vector of distraction.

Gender-specific risk factors for gout: a systematic review of cohort studies.

Background: Though gout is more prevalent in men than women, it remains unclear whether gender influences risk factors for incident gout. We aimed to systematically review all cohort studies examining risk factors for the development of gout by gender.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to March 2019.

Additively manufactured versus conventionally pressed cranioplasty implants: An accuracy comparison.

This article compared the accuracy of producing patient-specific cranioplasty implants using four different approaches. Benchmark geometry was designed to represent a cranium and a defect added simulating a craniectomy. An 'ideal' contour reconstruction was calculated and compared against reconstructions resulting from the four approaches -'conventional', 'semi-digital', 'digital - non-automated' and 'digital - semi-automated'.

Obesity, hypertension and diuretic use as risk factors for incident gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Background: Gout treatment remains suboptimal. Identifying populations at risk of developing gout may provide opportunities for prevention. Our aim was to assess the risk of incident gout associated with obesity, hypertension and diuretic use.