Additive manufacturing pertaining to bone: Hopes, reality and future challenges for clinical applications

For the past 20 years, democratization of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies has made many us dream of: low cost, waste-free, and on-demand production functional parts; fully customized tools; designs limited by imagination only, etc. As every patient is unique, potential AM for medical field thought to be considerable: would allow division dedicated patient-specific healthcare solutions entirely adapted patients’ clinical needs. Pertinently, this review offers an extensive overview bone-related applications ongoing research trends, from 3D anatomical models student education ephemeral structures supporting promoting bone regeneration. Today, undoubtably improved care should facilitate more improvements in near future. However, despite research, AM-based strategies regeneration remain only without compelling proof concept date. This may due a lack understanding biological mechanisms guiding formation traditional top-down devised solve issues. Indeed, integrated holistic approach recommended design regenerative systems (i.e., fixation scaffolds) remained at conceptual state. Challenged these issues, slower but incremental dynamic occurred last few recent progress suggests notable improvement years come, with view development safe, robust standardized large defects.