Methodological development of personalized orthopedic splints through low-cost additive manufacturing

Abstract

Orthopedic splints are widely used to immobilize parts of the body during the recovery from bone injuries, surgeries, or post-traumatic recovery. In the medical field, there are two main types of splints: the rigid and disposable ones made of plaster, and the non-disposable but detachable ones, typically made up of metallic and polymeric components. Rigid splints are economical and can be quickly applied, but they have limitations in terms of weight, ventilation, and comfort, and also require medical staff intervention for their removal. On the other hand, detachable splints offer greater comfort and breathability, but they are more expensive and their fit to the patient is less accurate. This work presents the development of personalized orthopedic splints, lighter and more breathable, at a reasonable cost and production time. To achieve this, a methodology is proposed that includes an economical scanning of the area to be immobilized, an accessible and efficient digital design, and its production using MEX additive manufacturing technology, meeting the necessary mechanical requirements for immobilization and stiffness, based on finite element simulations. This proposal is presented as an alternative to conventional splints, offering improved performance thanks to affordable and low-cost additive manufacturing technologies.