3D printing and prostheses: The current state-of-the-art and future directions

Abstract

Limb difference affects millions worldwide, with prevalence expected to rise due to increasing rates of diabetes and vascular disease. Despite the need for high-quality, functional prostheses, many individuals, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, lack access to affordable, customized prostheses. 3D printing offers a promising approach to address these gaps by enabling lower-cost, highly personalized prosthetic fabrication. This narrative review examines the current state of 3D printing in prosthetics, with a focus on upper limb prostheses, socket design, and terminal attachments. Although 3D printing has been used to produce functional prostheses, particularly in non-regulated settings, clinical adoption remains limited due to concerns regarding safety, durability, and a lack of high-quality evidence. This review highlights the advantages of 3D printing, including cost-effectiveness, customization, and accessibility, while also addressing key limitations such as material performance, regulatory challenges, and insufficient clinical validation. Future research priorities include rigorous clinical trials and performance testing to establish non-inferiority compared with conventional prostheses and to support broader clinical integration.