Table 6.

A brief summary of the 3D printed implants in feet and ankle applications.

Clinic cases	Prosthesis Type	Material	Printing techniques	Outcome	Country/year	Ref
Left open distal intra-articular tibia fracture with substantial distal tibia bone loss	custom 3D printed scaffold with patented truss structure	Ti6Al4V	/	By 6 months, the patient returned to work without ambulatory aids and with regular shoe wear. 15 months after surgery, the VAS for pain is 0. 13 months, a focal area of no radiographically identifiable bony bridge at the proximal anterior junction of the residual tibia and the custom implant	USA/2016	[214]
Mesenchymal sarcoma of the talus	total talar prosthesis with upper modular component made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for articulation with the tibia and fibula, and lower component made of 3D printed titanium alloy for articulation with the calcaneum and navicular	Titanium alloy	/	Patient was disease free 6 months after surgery, walk almost normally without any aid or pain. Roentgenograph showed that the prosthesis and the screws were in stable position, and no abnormalities	China/2018	[205]
Foot drop	3D printed personalized plate	Ti6Al4V powders	EBM	Short operation time and minimal blood loss. No infection or fracture of the internal plate. Well-matched to the bone surface. Significant improvement in AOFAS and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) scores 36 months after surgery.	China/2021	[207]
Talar necrosis and collapse (TNC)	3D printed talar prosthesis with porous talonavicular and subtalar articular structures and screw fixation channel	Titanium alloy powder	EBM	No degenerative arthritis and prosthetic dislocation. The talar arc length, talar height, talar width, tibiotalar alignment angle, talar tilt angle, Bohler's angle, Meary's angle were all improved. Satisfaction with the implantation, normal activities can be done one month after operation.	China/2021	[215]
Osteoarticular infection of an ankle	titanium talus	Titanium	/	Fusion was achieved 4 months after surgery, function improvement 15 months after surgery, apparent signs of osseointegration, capable of walking without external aids	Spain/2021	[212]
Foot drop in both feet	personalized plate (P-Plate) for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis	Ti6Al4V powder	EBM	Plate was well-matched to the bone surface 3 months after surgery. No complications. The gait and AOFAS and SF-36scores improved.	China/2021	[207]
Chronic osteoarthritis of left ankle after a failed tibiotalar arthrodesis with an anterior plate. Active fistula on the external region of the ankle	3D printed custom-made talus implants	Titanium	/	Fusion was achieved 4 months after surgery. Obvious functional improvement and partial osteointegration of the implants at a 15 month follow-up. No displacement or rupture.	Spain/2022	[212]