3D-printed Titanium Prosthetic Reconstruction of the C2 Vertebra: Techniques and Outcomes of Three Consecutive Cases.

STUDY

DESIGN

Three patients were treated at our center with patient-specific three-dimensional (3D)-printed titanium prostheses for the reconstruction of structurally compromised C2 vertebrae.

OBJECTIVE

To describe our surgical and device design approach to these clinical scenarios and evaluate their outcomes.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are a limited but increasing number of case reports and series describing the use of 3D-printed prostheses for high cervical surgery.

METHODS

We have collated and reviewed three cases using patient-specific 3D-printed prostheses.

RESULTS

We report two cases arising from neoplastic destruction; one resulting from metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma, and the other from multiple myeloma. We additionally describe a case of C2 compromise as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis. All patients included in this report achieved successful surgical outcomes and symptom relief without significant complication. Clinical and radiological follow-up has demonstrated good outcomes in all cases up to 14-months postprocedure.

CONCLUSIONS

These cases describe successful use of custom 3D-printed prostheses for reconstruction of the anterior vertebral column through C2, and add to the emerging body of literature detailing the use of custom prostheses for complex spinal surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.