The use of patient-specific implants in genioplasty and its clinical accuracy: a preliminary study

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and clinical validation of patient-specific implants (PSI) in genioplasty. Fifteen patients with chin deformities were enrolled. Virtual planning was performed with the computer-aided surgical simulation method. The three-dimensional-printed titanium cutting guide and patient-specific plate were designed to guide the osteotomy and allow repositioning and fixation of the chin. The outcome was evaluated by comparing the plan with actual outcomes. All operations were successfully completed with PSIs. There was no difficulty in using patient-specific plates. The largest root-mean-square difference of the chin position was 0.69 mm in mediolateral translation and 2.01° in the yaw orientation. The results of the study indicated that the PSI technique was an accurate method of transferring the virtual plan to the operation field with great efficiency in genioplasty. A significant advantage of the PSI technique is that the patient-specific plate could simultaneously complete the repositioning and fixation of the chin. Intraoperative measurements and reposition guides were no longer required. Operative procedures were greatly simplified.