Clinical Applications of 3D Printing in Foot and Ankle Surgery

Peter Highlander, DPM, MS is a reconstructive foot & ankle surgeon at The Reconstruction Institute in Bellevue, Ohio. Dr. Highlander has been heavily involved in 3D printing since 2017 and is a founding member of the AOS3DP for which he serves as secretary. In addition to multiple ongoing research projects and patent pending implant designs involving 3D printing, Dr. Highlander serves on the advisory board and Associate Professor for the Miller 3D Print Lab at the University of Toledo Medical Center. In 2018, Dr. Highlander was named, "Physician Innovator” by Crain's Cleveland Business newspaper for his role in 3D printing. In 2016, Dr. Highlander relocated to his hometown and joined The Bellevue Hospital staff where he formed the Reconstruction Institute as well as a hospital based wound center for which he serves as medical director. Dr. Highlander also functions as director for the Bellevue Hospital's foot & ankle reconstruction surgical fellowship, a program which emphasizes 3D printing technology & its role in foot & ankle surgical reconstruction & research. A graduate of Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Highlander completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

I. Part 1: General Topics a. Historical perspectives on 3D printing b. Medical/Surgical applications: current state of technology c. Applications in foot and ankle surgery: pre-operative planning, custom instrumentation, and patient-specific implants d. Material science: when to consider each printable material (cobalt-chrome, titanium alloy, pure titanium, tantalum, Alumina ceramic, etc) e. Regulatory status and challenges f. Future outlook

II. Part 2: Surgical Techniques - Each chapter/technique will follow a similar format and is to include indications, contraindications, descriptive technique guide, case examples and complications - Each topic may be further subdivided for added detail and specificity - Each procedure may have more than one technique when applicable a. Osseous deficits of the tibia b. Osseous deficits of the fibula c. Total talus replacement d. Partial talus replacement/resurfacing e. Total ankle replacement with custom total talus replacement f. Total ankle replacement with custom tibial component g. Tibial-talar-calcaneal fusion with custom talar spacer h. Partial/subtotal calcaneus replacement i. Charcot reconstruction (midfoot, transverse tarsal, subtalar, ankle) j. Medial column fusion with custom navicular spacer k. Other tarsal bone replacement (cuboid/cuneiforms) l. Deformity correction of hindfoot with custom wedges m. Midfoot fusion with custom wedges n. Lesser metatarsal replacement o. 1st metatarsal phalangeal joint fusion revision with osseous deficit