Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
3D Planning and Printing of Patient Specific Implants for Reconstruction of Bony Defects
Published on: August 4, 2020
Model surgery with a passive robot arm for orthognathic surgery planning
Tamer Theodossy1, Mohammad Anwar Bamber
1Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, Mortimer Market, London WC1E 6AU, UK. tamertheodossy@hotmail.com
Purpose:
The aims of the study were to assess the degree of accuracy of model surgery performed manually using the Eastman technique and to compare it with model surgery performed with the aid of a robot arm.
Patients And Methods:
Twenty-one patients undergoing orthognathic surgery gave consent for this study. They were divided into 2 groups based on the model surgery technique used. Group A (52%) had model surgery performed manually, whereas group B (48%) had their model surgery performed using the robot arm. Patients' maxillary casts were measured before and after model surgery, and results were compared with those for the original treatment plan in horizontal (x-axis), vertical (y-axis), and transverse (z-axis) planes.
Results:
Statistical analysis using Mann-Whitney U test for x- and y-axis and independent sample t test for z-axis have shown significant differences between both groups in x-axis (P =.024) and y-axis (P =.01) but not in z-axis (P =.776).
Conclusions:
Model surgery performed with the aid of a robot arm is significantly more accurate in anteroposterior and vertical planes than is manual model surgery. Robot arm has an important role to play in orthognathic surgery planning and in determining the biometrics of orthognathic surgical change at the model surgery stage.
