Three-Dimensional Printing in Medical and Allied Health Practice: A Literature Review

Three-dimensional printing (3DP), first implemented as nonmedical science in engineering in 1986, has grown immensely in its current integration into the health care field. Three-dimensional printing may possibly lower health care costs and promote a higher quality of patient care. The implementation of 3DP in conjunction with postprocessing computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging has opened up avenues for the medical and allied health fields including prosthetics, surgery, radiation therapy, medical dosimetry, biomedical research, and organ transplantation. A search for the literature yielded articles from the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature database (CINAHL Complete), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online database (MEDLINE Complete), Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), and PubMed peer-reviewed journals. Articles specifically focused on 3DP in medicine and allied health. A synthesis matrix aided in developing multiple themes related to medicine, allied health, and education. The purpose of this literature review is to present fundamental information on 3DP processes/methods and materials and examine current applications of 3DP and benefits to higher education and health care institutions; 3DP limitations (technology, time, and cost) were also briefly examined. From these studies, it appears 3DP has numerous applications in medical and allied health settings. With the rapid growth of 3DP in the medical field, future analysis is necessary for evaluating cost-effective 3D-printed materials, budgeting for equipment, and evaluating longevity of transplanted devices. In addition, research on the use of 3DP and various printing materials is needed to demonstrate the advancements, longevity, uses, and successes of stem cells with 3DP.