From local practice to national standard - Prerequisites for digital planning and 3D printing in orthopaedic care

Purpose and goal

The project lays the foundation for a safe and equitable use of digital surgical planning and 3D printing in orthopedic care. Through collaboration between healthcare, academia, industry and patient representatives, clinical needs as well as regulatory, technical and organizational conditions are mapped. The result is prioritized areas of use, a common set of requirements and an anchored proposal for an implementation project for standardized working methods that can be spread nationally.

Expected effects and result

The project will result in prioritized areas of use, clear regulatory, technical and organizational requirements and an anchored implementation project with partners, project plan and budget. In the short term consensus is created and collaboration between the affected actors is strengthened. In the longer term, this will contribute to standardized working methods, safer and more equal access to digital planning and 3D printing, increased patient participation and more efficient orthopedic care.

Planned approach and implementation

The project runs over six months in three partly parallel activities: mapping and prioritizing areas of use and clinical needs, investigation of regulatory, technical and organizational requirements, and partner coordination and project preparation. The work is carried out through interviews, workshops, document analysis and expert dialogue. Region Östergötland and Linköping University lead the work with industry and patient representatives. The results are compiled in a project plan and budget.