Computer-Aided Design and Three-Dimensional-Printed Surgical Templates for Second-Stage Mandibular Reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• 3D Printing in Medicine

Background:

• Accurate mandibular reconstruction is challenging due to bone remodeling and occlusal factors.
• Achieving optimal condylar position and mandibular shape is difficult in clinical practice.
• Existing methods often struggle with precise restoration of mandibular anatomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a standardized method for mandibular reconstruction using computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D-printed surgical templates.
• To address challenges in resetting physiologic positions of the mandibular condyle and ramus.
• To improve the accuracy and predictability of mandibular reconstruction for obsolete defects.

Main Methods:

• Preoperative computed tomography (CT) data acquisition for 3D model creation.
• Computerized planning of physiologic condyle and ramus positions on sagittal, axial, and coronal planes.
• Surgical simulation and fabrication of patient-specific 3D-printed surgical templates.

Main Results:

• Postoperative assessment confirmed satisfactory condyle repositioning.
• Reconstruction error was minimal (±0.56 mm), aligning with preoperative design.
• The method demonstrated high accuracy in restoring mandibular anatomy.

Conclusions:

• Computer-aided design combined with 3D-printed surgical templates offers a standardized approach for mandibular reconstruction.
• This technique effectively addresses obsolete mandibular defects, improving surgical outcomes.
• The method shows potential for routine clinical application in complex mandibular reconstructions.