The utilization of 3D printing in medicine at point of care: the benefits, the challenges, and the future
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Abstract
The application of 3D printing in medicine is a relatively new idea. However, as technology advances, more healthcare systems are adopting this technology. The use of 3D printing has been shown to benefit both the hospital provider and the patient. For the provider, 3D printing is utilized for a variety of purposes, including preoperative planning with anatomic models, creating surgical guides, and creating custom implants and prosthetics. These advantages benefit the patient by reducing time in the operating room and thus the amount of time the patient is under anesthesia. This situation lessens patient complications and saves money for the hospital. However, many issues with 3D printing remain unresolved, including ethical concerns, patient privacy, equity, regulation, and sustainability, and more research is needed to address these concerns. Despite these challenges, 3D printing is growing in popularity in healthcare systems across the country and is proving to play a significant role in the future of modern medicine.
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Attribution 4.0 International