Three-dimensional virtual reality surgical planning and simulation workbench for orthognathic surgery

Area of Science:

• Medical technology
• Computer-aided surgery
• Orthognathic surgery

Background:

• Orthognathic surgery requires precise pre-operative planning.
• Current planning methods may not fully capture complex facial anatomy and post-operative changes.
• Advancements in virtual reality offer new possibilities for surgical simulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel integrated computer system for 3D virtual reality surgical planning and simulation in orthognathic surgery.
• To evaluate the system's capabilities in virtual surgical planning, simulation, and soft tissue change prediction.
• To provide surgeons with a tool for enhanced pre-operative preparation.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 3D virtual reality surgical planning and simulation workbench (VRSP).
• Integration of computed tomographic (CT) data processing and 3D reconstruction.
• Generation of individualized, texture-mapped, 3D color facial soft tissue models.
• Implementation of virtual surgical planning, simulation, and soft tissue change prediction functionalities.
• Inclusion of basic mensuration functions for linear and spatial measurements.

Main Results:

• The VRSP system successfully integrates CT data, 3D geometry transformation, and soft tissue modeling.
• Virtual surgical planning and simulation are performed using 3D CT reconstructions.
• Presurgical prediction of soft tissue changes is achieved using individualized facial models.
• Quantitative osteotomy-simulated bone models and predicted photorealistic color facial models are visualized.
• The system is designed for installation and daily use in hospitals.

Conclusions:

• The 3D virtual reality surgical planning and simulation workbench (VRSP) offers a comprehensive solution for orthognathic surgery.
• The system facilitates accurate virtual surgical planning, simulation, and prediction of post-operative outcomes.
• VRSP enhances pre-surgical preparation by providing realistic visualization and quantitative analysis.
• This technology has the potential to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes in orthognathic procedures.