Patient Specific Treatment of Osseous Pathologies of the Hand, Wrist, and Forearm
1Kantonsspital Baselland, Basel, Switzerland
2Kantonsspital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
3University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
4University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Patient Specific Treatment of Osseous Pathologies of the Hand, Wrist, and Forearm
Description
We treat patients as individuals, but in regard to the treatment of traumatic, post-traumatic and degenerative pathologies in hand, wrist, and forearm surgery, the available options are limited to standard procedures and implants. Throughout the last few years, emerging technologies, such as medical additive manufacturing (3D/4D-printing), improved medical imaging and diagnostics (e.g. cone beam and four-dimensional computed tomography), augmented and virtual reality - as well as artificial intelligence - allow for a more individualized patient-specific treatment of osseous pathologies with the goal to restore balance and function of the upper extremity.
Latest developments in bioprinting and printable biodegradable materials allow for individualized treatment meeting the requirements of individual anthropometry and biomechanics without the necessity to remove these implants. New surgical approaches and procedures are possible because of the latest technological developments. The implementation of these technologies in the clinical workflow at the point of care and to prove better outcomes of individualized treatment with a good level of evidence are the current challenges facing the field.
The aim of this Special Issue is to collate original research and review articles with a focus on the use and feasible implementation of the aforementioned technologies in patient-specific treatment of traumatic, post-traumatic, and degenerative pathologies of the hand, wrist and forearm. We encourage researchers, surgeons, and therapists to contribute their latest research with original research articles, systematic reviews, description of new surgical techniques and case series in the field with focus on the upper extremity.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Latest technological developments in medical imaging, analysis, and diagnostics
- Integration of virtual surgical planning software in daily routine
- Navigation in surgery based on augmented/virtual Reality
- Hybrid and minimal invasive procedures in patient-specific surgery
- In-vivo application of additive manufactured (3D/4D printing) biodegradables and materials
- Additive manufactured high-performance biocompatible polymers and metals
- Teaching in the field of patient-specific treatment of osseous pathologies of the upper extremity