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A Feasibility Study of Splintage by 3D Scanning and Printing: Process and Evaluation of Current 3D Printing Material.

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Title: A Feasibility Study of Splintage by 3D Scanning and Printing: Process and Evaluation of Current 3D Printing Material.
Authors: Li, Sze Wai Anson1 (AUTHOR), Mok, Sze Wa Afra1 (AUTHOR), Wong, Sze Wing (AUTHOR), Yang, Bohao1 (AUTHOR), Chan, Jackie Ngai-Man1 (AUTHOR), Fong, Kenneth N. K.1 (AUTHOR), Chan, Sam Chi Chung1 (AUTHOR), Lau, Chung Man Joy1 (AUTHOR), Lau, Benson Wui-Man (AUTHOR) benson.lau@polyu.edu.hk
Source: Materials (1996-1944). Mar2026, Vol. 19 Issue 6, p1146. 22p.
Subjects: Splints (Surgery), Polylactic acid, Satisfaction, Rehabilitation, Occupational therapy, Materials testing, Three-dimensional printing, Three-dimensional imaging
Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) scanning and printing technologies enable the production of personalized rehabilitation splints, yet challenges such as scanning artifacts in complex anatomical areas (e.g., finger webs), lengthy post-processing, long printing times, and material limitations (e.g., brittleness and poor breathability) hinder routine clinical adoption. This feasibility study developed and evaluated a clinician-accessible protocol for fabricating cock-up wrist splints using 3D scanning (Creaform GO!SCAN 50 with VXelements 4.1), modeling (Materialise Magics), and fused deposition modeling printing with polylactic acid (PLA) on a MakerBot Replicator+. Five healthy participants wore the splints for one week, with user satisfaction assessed via the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0; average total score 4.14/5, range 3.75–4.42) questionnaire. An experienced occupational therapist provided expert feedback. High satisfaction was reported for weight (4.6/5) and ease of use (4.6/5), confirming advantages over traditional thermoplastic splints in lightness and esthetics. However, lower scores for durability (3.6/5), comfort (3.6/5), and effectiveness (3.6/5) stemmed from PLA brittleness (cracking under load or overtightening), rough surfaces despite vapor polishing, inadequate ventilation causing moisture buildup, and fit issues (e.g., pressure points). Printing time averaged 9–19 h per splint. The protocol demonstrates proof-of-concept feasibility for clinicians with basic computer techniques, but material constraints and process refinements are required for reliable application in patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Materials (1996-1944) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: A Feasibility Study of Splintage by 3D Scanning and Printing: Process and Evaluation of Current 3D Printing Material.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Sze+Wai+Anson%22">Li, Sze Wai Anson</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mok%2C+Sze+Wa+Afra%22">Mok, Sze Wa Afra</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wong%2C+Sze+Wing%22">Wong, Sze Wing</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Bohao%22">Yang, Bohao</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chan%2C+Jackie+Ngai-Man%22">Chan, Jackie Ngai-Man</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fong%2C+Kenneth+N%2E+K%2E%22">Fong, Kenneth N. K.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chan%2C+Sam+Chi+Chung%22">Chan, Sam Chi Chung</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lau%2C+Chung+Man+Joy%22">Lau, Chung Man Joy</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lau%2C+Benson+Wui-Man%22">Lau, Benson Wui-Man</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<i> benson.lau@polyu.edu.hk</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Materials+%281996-1944%29%22">Materials (1996-1944)</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 19 Issue 6, p1146. 22p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Splints+%28Surgery%29%22">Splints (Surgery)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polylactic+acid%22">Polylactic acid</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Satisfaction%22">Satisfaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rehabilitation%22">Rehabilitation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Occupational+therapy%22">Occupational therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Materials+testing%22">Materials testing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Three-dimensional+printing%22">Three-dimensional printing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Three-dimensional+imaging%22">Three-dimensional imaging</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Three-dimensional (3D) scanning and printing technologies enable the production of personalized rehabilitation splints, yet challenges such as scanning artifacts in complex anatomical areas (e.g., finger webs), lengthy post-processing, long printing times, and material limitations (e.g., brittleness and poor breathability) hinder routine clinical adoption. This feasibility study developed and evaluated a clinician-accessible protocol for fabricating cock-up wrist splints using 3D scanning (Creaform GO!SCAN 50 with VXelements 4.1), modeling (Materialise Magics), and fused deposition modeling printing with polylactic acid (PLA) on a MakerBot Replicator+. Five healthy participants wore the splints for one week, with user satisfaction assessed via the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0; average total score 4.14/5, range 3.75–4.42) questionnaire. An experienced occupational therapist provided expert feedback. High satisfaction was reported for weight (4.6/5) and ease of use (4.6/5), confirming advantages over traditional thermoplastic splints in lightness and esthetics. However, lower scores for durability (3.6/5), comfort (3.6/5), and effectiveness (3.6/5) stemmed from PLA brittleness (cracking under load or overtightening), rough surfaces despite vapor polishing, inadequate ventilation causing moisture buildup, and fit issues (e.g., pressure points). Printing time averaged 9–19 h per splint. The protocol demonstrates proof-of-concept feasibility for clinicians with basic computer techniques, but material constraints and process refinements are required for reliable application in patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Materials (1996-1944) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.3390/ma19061146
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 1146
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Splints (Surgery)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polylactic acid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Satisfaction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rehabilitation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Occupational therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Materials testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Three-dimensional printing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Three-dimensional imaging
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A Feasibility Study of Splintage by 3D Scanning and Printing: Process and Evaluation of Current 3D Printing Material.
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              Text: Mar2026
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              Y: 2026
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