A Study on the Hamate Bone Learning Effect Using DICOM Images and 3D Printing

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study compared the characteristics and the anatomical learning effects of a hamate bone model printed from DICOM images on a 3D printer.
Method/Statistical Analysis: After printing a hamate bone model from DICOM images obtained from a wrist joint examination using a 3D printer, this study examined the anatomical understanding of 102 university students in public health departments.
Findings: The intuitive awareness and the morphological awareness of the students on the protrusion, front and back of the hamate bone, and 5-way joint contact surfaces which were difficult to identify in conventional 2D and 3D medical images were improved by 60.7% and 58%, respectively.
Improvements/Applications: The experiment showed that instrumenting of shape through 3D printing as a knowledge transfer method for students learning anatomy can improve the learning effect.