Additive manufacturing of customized lower limb orthoses – A review

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) has been successfully applied in the healthcare and shows potential for modernization of lower limb orthoses manufacturing process. This study aims to analyze the scientific production of AM application in customized lower limb orthoses production (foot and ankle-foot orthoses) to identify possible research gaps. To reach the proposed objective, a systematic literature review was carried out, based on the construction of a bibliographic portfolio, a bibliometric study and on article content analysis. Some study gaps were identified as the cost of the 3D digitalizing and the additive manufacturing process employed. This review will be the basis for the development of research on the application of low cost 3D digitizing and 3D printing technologies in the development of lower limb orthoses.