One Layer at a Time: Rapid Prototyping in Orthopaedics

Hani Haider, PhD; Karthikeyan E. Ponnusamy, MD; Nicholas John Giori,MD; Paul A. Anderson, MD; Ahmad Nassr, MD

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a popular umbrella term to describe additive manufacturing, a form of rapid-prototyping. It refers to building an object, one thin layer at a time. In the 1980s, stereolithography used a fine laser to solidify layers of liquid thermoplastic resin. A decade later, inkjet-printer-like heads used a liquid binder to solidify powder layers. Today, many other processes can be used. (See sidebar “Additive manufacturing processes.”

AJRR Launches New User Group Network

The American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) launched its first-ever User Group Network at the 2015 AAOS Annual Meeting. This network provides a forum for individuals who work closely with the Registry, enabling them to stay connected and learn from others in similar situations. “The AJRR User Group Network is a place to share information and best practices,” said executive director Jeff Knezovich.

Osteochondral Allograft Studies Win Lanier Award

Jennie McKee

Osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation has become one of the foremost methods for treating articular cartilage injury and disease, largely due to the work of William D. Bugbee, MD, of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, and his colleagues at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). “Our intense research efforts over the last 2 decades have helped transform this procedure from experimental ‘niche’ status to a mainstay of orthopaedic practice,” said Dr.

Radiation Exposure Safety in Orthopaedics

Bradford S. Waddell, MD; Jeffrey Martus, MD; Paul Zemaitis, MPH; William J. Robb III, MD

Since Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen revealed the power of cathode rays and X-rays in 1895, physicians and surgeons have expanded the use of X-rays as a valuable clinical tool. Today, X-rays are used in single frame radiographs, computed tomography (CT), radiotherapy, and real-time fluoroscopy. Each of these modalities has improved accuracy in diagnosing clinical conditions, locating foreign bodies, allowing placement of percutaneous devices, and, in the case of radiotherapy, treating diseases.