This randomized clinical study involved 40 individuals aged 18 to 80 who were planned for PCNL surgery. Participants were divided into two groups to compare how well they understood their condition. One group received patient-specific 3D printed kidney models, while the other group used conventional 2D CT scans. The researchers measured comprehension and satisfaction as the main outcomes.
Results showed that comprehension was significantly higher in the group using the 3D models. Satisfaction scores were also significantly higher for those who viewed the 3D models compared to the 2D scan group. Both differences were statistically significant with a p-value less than 0.05.
No adverse events or discontinuations were reported in this small trial. The study was limited by its small sample size of only 40 people. Because the study was small, these results should be viewed as early evidence. More research is needed to confirm if these benefits hold true for larger groups of patients.