3D Printing in Healthcare: Bridging Innovation and Practical Use

Abstract

Medical 3D printing is rapidly transforming healthcare by enabling personalized, patient-specific solutions that enhance clinical outcomes and streamline surgical procedures. Its applications span from anatomical models for pre-operative planning to custom surgical tools, advanced medical devices, and implants tailored to individual anatomy. These innovations not only improve surgical precision and reduce operative times but also contribute to more efficient resource utilization. Over recent years, academic hospitals have increasingly transitioned from research to clinical implementation, underscoring the technology's real-world viability. Despite this progress, challenges such as limited reimbursement frameworks, regulatory uncertainties, the need for advanced imaging and software tools, and clinical training requirements continue to hinder widespread adoption. Looking ahead, the vision of decentralized, on-site manufacturing-where hospitals produce patient-specific devices and even bioprinted organs-is increasingly within reach. Realizing this potential will require coordinated efforts across research, industry, and healthcare systems to ensure safety, efficacy, and accessibility in routine clinical practice.