The use of 3-dimensional (3D) printing in the development of assistive adaptive devices (AADs) and prostheses has expanded rapidly, offering opportunities for patient-specific customization and iterative design. Despite this growth, there remains limited guidance on how 3D printing can be systematically integrated into routine clinical practice within a multidisciplinary rehabilitation framework. This case series presents a goal-oriented, multidisciplinary approach for the clinical implementation of 3D printing in the development of AAD and prostheses. Seven customized AAD or prosthetic devices were developed through collaboration between a rehabilitation physician, an occupational therapist, and a mechanical engineer. Device recommendation and design were guided by predefined patient-centered functional goals. Outcomes were evaluated using goal attainment scale, allowing individualized assessment relative to each patient’s baseline function and intended device purpose. Across the 7 cases, the fabricated devices achieved their predefined functional goals to varying degrees, reflecting the heterogeneity of impairments and individual priorities. The application of goal attainment scale enabled structured outcome evaluation while preserving patient-centered goal individualization. This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a multidisciplinary, goal-oriented framework that integrates 3D printing into clinical rehabilitation practice, supporting the translation of patient needs into functional assistive and prosthetic solutions.
Hashim et al. (Fri,) studied this question.