Introduction: Fracture of the distal part of the radius is one of the most common types of fractures. Treatment most often includes plaster casts as well as splints and synthetic immobilization materials. With the development of technology, new methods of immobilization have appeared. One of the prospective ways is the use of three-dimensional technology. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma work is to produce wrist orthoses for the treatment of fractures of the distal part of the radius with the help of three-dimensional technology. Furthermore, we want to measure the thermal conductivity of the printed orthoses and compare it with the conductivity of plaster orthoses. At the same time, their hardness will be measured and compared. Methods: We used an optical scanner to get a model of the hand in a digital form, following the computer processing of the model obtained. The model was then printed using the three-dimensional printer. Next, hardness measurements with a durometer and thermal conductivity measurements with a thermal camera were performed. Results: We have produced five orthoses (four of which with the help of three-dimensional technology and one out of plaster) - two orthoses for women, and the other three for men. The scanning process took about 90 seconds for both genders, while the modelling took 30 minutes. Printing of the male model took 3 hours more than for the female model, 80 grams of material was used, i.e., 20 grams more than for female model. When testing thermal conductivity, we compared orthoses and established, that the highest temperature occurred in the bare hand without orthosis, followed by a three-dimensional printed orthosis, while the lowest temperature was measured in a plaster orthosis. Hardness measurements showed comparable results in the case of printed orthosis and plaster orthosis. Discussion and conclusion: Orthosis made with help of three-dimensional printer conducts heat better than plaster. We established that the sensation of heat on the skin is greater with an orthosis made of plaster than with a printed orthosis. We have proven that the printed orthosis has similar hardness in comparison to the plaster orthosis.
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