Current Applications of 3D Printing Technology in Otolaryngology: State of the Art and Personal Experience

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing, has become increasingly popular since its emergence in the 1980s and has made dramatic impacts within several industries, especially medicine and surgery. Advancements in the technology have been coupled with declining costs, and together these are responsible for the increased availability of 3D printing. Additive manufacturing has found various applications in medicine, which are continuously progressing. Notably, are its uses in the production of medical devices and prosthetics, customized pharmaceuticals and even in regenerative medicine. Although 3D printing has found many innovative applications in medicine, no field has benefited as much as surgery has. Here, additive manufacturing has found success in being used for surgical and preclinical education, customised surgical planning, implantable prosthetics, and within the field of tissue engineering. Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgery has benefited immensely from the emergence of 3D printing technology, and its uses have extended to every branch of the speciality. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the recent applications of 3D printing in the field of otolaryngology, and also to demonstrate the innovative research being performed in this field at the University of Pavia and IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo di Pavia. A total of 52 studies were reviewed and categorised by their main focus. Surgical and preclinical education was found to be the most dominant application of 3D printing technology in this field, accounting for over half of the studies. Conversely, tissue engineering and implantable prosthetics accounted for the lowest number of studies, demonstrating the early stage of development of this application of 3D printing. Overall, Pavia can be described as a powerhouse in the domain of 3D printing research, especially in the field of otolaryngology. This thanks in part to the presence of a fully operational 3D printing laboratory named ‘3D4Med’ within Policlinico S. Matteo di Pavia. Several innovative studies have been undertaken by the Department of Otolaryngology and many have yielded promising results. In the future we can expect these results to translate into better patient care and improved medical and surgical education.