Evaluation of the Accuracy of Computer-Guided Mandibular Fracture Reduction

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the accuracy of computer-guided mandibular fracture reduction. A total of 24 patients with fractured mandible were included in the current study. A preoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan was performed on all of the patients. Based on CBCT, three-dimensional reconstruction and virtual reduction of the mandibular fracture segments were done and a virtual bone borne surgical guide was designed and exported as Standard Tessellation Language file. A physical guide was then fabricated using a three-dimensional printing machine. Open reduction and internal fixation was done for all of the patients and the fracture segments were anatomically reduced with the aid of the custom-fabricated surgical guide. Postoperative CBCT was performed after 7 days and results of which were compared with the virtually reduced preoperative mandibular models. Comparison of values of lingula-sagittal plane, inferior border-sagittal plane, and anteroposterior measurements revealed no statistically significant differences between the virtual and the clinically reduced CBCT models. Based on the results of the current study, computer-based surgical guide aid in obtaining accurate anatomical reduction of the displaced mandibular fractured segments. Moreover, the computer-based surgical guides were found to be beneficial in reducing fractures of completely and partially edentulous mandibles.