A new implant for nasal reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Extraoral implants traditionally anchor nasal prostheses.
• Patients with complete rhinectomy often require complex prosthetic solutions for both nasal and oral cavities.
• Edentulous patients present unique challenges for prosthetic rehabilitation after extensive facial reconstruction.

Observation:

• A bifunctional implant was designed using computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) for intraoral placement.
• The implant features a nasal component for the piriform aperture and an intraoral head with a standard hex configuration.
• Surgical placement was facilitated by custom guides and instrumentation.

Findings:

• The custom-designed titanium implant successfully anchored both nasal and oral prostheses simultaneously.
• CAD/CAM technology proved effective for producing bespoke, low-cost implantable components.
• The bifunctional implant significantly streamlined surgical and prosthetic management.

Implications:

• This approach offers a potentially more efficient and cost-effective solution for patients needing simultaneous nasal and oral prostheses.
• Bespoke implant design via CAD/CAM can enhance functional and aesthetic outcomes in complex maxillofacial reconstructions.
• Further research could explore the long-term stability and patient-reported outcomes of this bifunctional implant system.