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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2590-9143
Original Research

Comparative Analysis of 3D-Printed Drill Guides and Minimally Invasive Osteosynthesis in Feline Sacroiliac Luxation: A Cadaveric Study

Radu Mircea Scortea 
1   Department of Surgery, Tierklinik Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
,
Fee Marie Fohrmann
1   Department of Surgery, Tierklinik Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
,
Cosmin Muresan
2   Department of Surgery, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
,
Alexandru Gabriel Neagu
3   Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Science Bucharest, University of of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
,
Niculae Tudor
3   Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Science Bucharest, University of of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
,
Maximiljan W. Krauss
1   Department of Surgery, Tierklinik Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Funding The authors disclose that Arthrex provided funding in the form of the implants used for the study (Study ID: IIRR-01601).
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Abstract

Objectives

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a 3D-printed drill guide technique (3D-DGT) in facilitating sacroiliac screw placement in feline cadavers with sacroiliac luxation (SIL), compared with minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIO). Additionally, the accuracy and precision of implant placement in relation to preoperative planning were evaluated.

Study Design

Bilateral SIL was created in 14 feline cadavers, followed by preoperative CT scans. For both techniques, preoperative planning was performed, and 2.4-mm screws were implanted. Postoperative CT scans were then performed to evaluate screw placement accuracy, entry point translation (EPT), and the maximum angular screw deviation (MASD) in dorsal and transverse planes.

Results

In the lateral plane, the median (IQR) EPT (in mm) with MIO significantly differed from that with 3D-DGT on the y-axis (dorsoventral direction) from the planned entry location (Mann-Whitney U test, U = 42.5, Z = −2.55, p = 0.009). However, no significant differences were noted on the x-axis (craniocaudal direction) from the planned entry location (Mann–Whitney U test, U = 60, Z = −1.76, p = 0.08). Median (IQR) MASD did not differ significantly between MIO and 3D-DGT in either dorsal or transverse planes (Mann–Whitney U test, U = 77, Z = −0.98, p = 0.34; U = 64, Z = −1.57, p = 0.12, respectively).

Conclusion

The use of 3D-DGT lead to fewer suboptimal placements compared with MIO (7.14% versus 42.85%), though the difference was not statistically significant.

Keywords

trauma - comparative research - fracture fixation techniques - MIO (minimally invasive approach) - fracture repair systems

Ethical Approval Statement

Ethical approval was granted by the Bioethics Committee of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, Approval Issue no. 23 17.05.2022.


Authors' Contribution

All authors contributed to the conception, study design, acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation. All authors drafted, revised, and approved the submitted manuscript and are publicly responsible for the relevant content.




Publication History

Received: 28 August 2024

Accepted: 17 April 2025

Article published online:
30 April 2025

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