A wrist-phantom pilot compared a PLA 3D-printed immobilizer with tape and sandbag stabilization for lateral radiography. Image quality did not differ significantly (p=.263), blinded inter-rater ICC was .877, and positioning time differed (p=.036) with sandbags fastest. The device is feasible, not yet proven clinically or for staff-dose reduction.
Key findings
- Image quality showed no significant difference (p=.263), ICC was .877, and positioning time differed (p=.036) with sandbags fastest. Attenuation adjacent to the anatomy of interest was 8.6–20.8%, with higher attenuation confined to non-diagnostic regions.
Why this matters globally
3D printing enables task-specific positioning aids in hospitals, including resource-limited settings, but cleaning, durability, patient sizes and workflow matter alongside image quality.
Thai researcher contribution
Thammasat radiological-technology and medical researchers designed, fabricated and evaluated the prototype in Thailand.
Limitations to consider
A phantom lacks pain, motion, soft tissue and body-size diversity. Image count and order randomization are not reported; repeat rate, diagnostic accuracy, staff dose, comfort, infection control, durability and lifecycle cost were unmeasured. A nonsignificant p-value is not proof of equivalence without a margin.