ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Solid plastic replicas of anatomical structures obtained by stereolithography from computed tomographic images and magnetic resonance imaging are being used as complementary tools for diagnostic purposes and therapy planning for diverse pathologies. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: Case 1--The spine mold of a 62-year-old man with neurologic compromise secondary to degenerative cervical disease was used to study the pathologic features of his spine and to plan and simulate the approach to remove osteophytes before surgery. Also, by examining the replica of his spine, the unconvinced patient was able to understand the nature of his pathology and realize that his neurologic symptoms would disappear only through surgery, as they did. Case 2--A 27-year-old woman had uncontrolled back and leg pain possibly related to anxiety and depression. She had undergone one unsuccessful lumbo-sacral surgery and was now obsessed with the thought that her second surgery, performed by us, likewise had failed, even though her magnetic resonance images proved otherwise. It was not until she held a replica of her repaired spine in her hands that she was able to understand that her pain was unfounded. Once she was able to relax, her chronic pain and anxiety disappeared within a month, using the same antidepressive treatment that formerly had been ineffective. CONCLUSIONS: Spine replicas are useful devices for diagnosis, planning, and simulating surgery, and they enable patients to understand the nature of their pathologies and the surgical procedures at hand.