A new study suggests that 3D-printed spinal models could help surgeons better understand highly complex cases and prepare for surgical procedures. The findings are based on research conducted at the Doctoral School of Semmelweis University and published in the journal World Neurosurgery.
The researchers examined how specialists assessed life-sized 3D models created from medical imaging data compared with conventional methods such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs. A total of 41 specialists from three leading spine surgery centers in Hungary took part in the study and evaluated the perceived benefits of the models through questionnaires.
The cases ranged from congenital spinal deformities and rare developmental abnormalities to tumors and patients who had already undergone several spinal operations. Such conditions can involve highly complex anatomical variations, making both the interpretation of imaging data and the planning of surgical procedures particularly demanding.
The greatest perceived benefits were recorded in surgical planning and patient communication, particularly in cases where abnormal anatomy or previous procedures had made spinal structures harder to assess. Implanted metal hardware, for example, can further complicate the interpretation of conventional medical images.
Unlike an image viewed on a screen, a 3D-printed model gives surgeons a physical replica of the patient’s spine that can be examined from different angles. Researchers say this may help doctors better understand unique anatomical variations and complex pathologies before entering the operating room.
“In highly unique anatomical situations, every case represents a new learning process for the surgeon,” says Dr. Péter Éltes, supervisor at the School of PhD Studies at Semmelweis University. He is the senior author of the study and a spine surgeon at the National Center for Spinal Disorders.
“Previous general anatomical knowledge alone is often not sufficient. In such situations, it is particularly valuable not only to see a two-dimensional image of the spine but also to hold it, rotate it, and examine it physically before surgery. The models can even be used for rehearsal procedures, allowing surgeons to explore different technical aspects of the operation, including drilling into the model,” Éltes explains.
The possibility of rehearsing elements of an operation on a model could be particularly valuable in unusual cases in which standard anatomical knowledge provides only limited guidance. Rather than replacing medical imaging, the models could act as an additional planning tool, allowing surgeons to study individual anatomy in a more tangible format.
Before 3D-printed spine models can be introduced into routine surgical practice, healthcare institutions must meet strict quality assurance and regulatory requirements. For this reason, the models are currently produced mainly for research and educational purposes.
The researchers nevertheless see significant potential in patient communication. Complex spinal conditions can be difficult to explain using conventional scans, particularly to patients and family members without medical training. A physical model could make both the condition and the proposed procedure easier to understand.
“Patients may literally hold a replica of their own or their child’s spine, a model of a complex congenital spinal deformity. Physicians can then explain the planned intervention in detail using the model,” says Benjámin Hajnal, a doctoral student at the School of PhD Studies at Semmelweis University and a first author of the study.
“This represents a major step forward compared to CT or MRI scans, where we can only show two-dimensional segments. Moreover, understanding such images is often difficult for people without medical training,” Hajnal adds.
The use of tangible models could, therefore, serve a dual purpose. In addition to supporting medical teams in preparing for difficult procedures, the same technology may help patients and relatives gain a clearer picture of what surgeons are planning and why.
Another notable finding was that surgeons’ assessments of the 3D models were largely independent of their level of professional experience or specialty; surgeons with decades of clinical spine practice considered the models just as useful as younger colleagues.
At the same time, 80% of participants had never previously used a 3D-printed anatomical model in clinical practice. The finding suggests that the technology remains relatively unfamiliar even among specialists despite its potential applications.
The study’s authors believe the results point to broader possibilities for 3D printing in the preparation for complex spine surgery. While regulatory and quality assurance hurdles still limit routine clinical use, the technology could increasingly complement conventional imaging in selected cases where anatomy is especially difficult to interpret, and surgical planning demands a highly individualized approach.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of July 17, 2026.
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