Available online 10 September 2022

Bone fracture poses different mechanical challenges when faced with possible osteosynthesis.

Preoperative templating offers a possibility to plan ahead of surgery and ensure the best possible alignment.

There has been rapid development in preoperative templating over the last 100 years.

Templating in fracture surgery has evolved from placing sketches on transparent overhead projector paper to involving complex digital programs.

Preoperative planning in orthopaedic fracture surgery corroborates with the goal of establishing the best possible surgical result and ensuring a functioning limb for the patient. From placing sketches on overhead projector paper and measuring lengths from anatomical landmarks, ways of preoperative planning have evolved rapidly over the last 100 years. Today, preoperative planning includes methods such as advanced 3-Dimensional(3D) printed models and software programs incorporating entire libraries of osteosynthesis materials that can be shaped and rotated to fit a patient's specific anatomy. Relevant literature was evaluated to review the development of preoperative templating from the past and present, in order to assess its impact on the future of osteosynthesis.We identified studies on 3D-imaging, computer-assisted systems, and 3D-printed fractured bones and drill guides. The use of some of these systems resulted in a reduction in operation time, blood loss, perioperative fluoroscopy and hospital stay, as well as better placement of osteosynthesis material. Only few studies have identified differences in patient morbidity and mortality. Future techniques of preoperative templating are on the rise and the potential is vast. The cost-effectiveness and usefulness of certain methods need to be evaluated further, but the benefit of preoperative templating has the potential of being revolutionary, with the possibility of radical advances within orthopaedic surgery.

Orthopaedics

Fracture surgery

Preoperative templating

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.