The accuracy of three-dimensional rapid prototyped surgical template guided anterior segmental osteotomy

Surgical guiding templates provided a reliable way to transfer the simulation to the actual operation. However, there was no template designed for anterior segmental osteotomy so far. The study aimed to introduce and evaluate a set of 3D rapid prototyping surgical templates used in anterior segmental osteotomy.

From August 2015 to August 2017, 17 patients with bimaxillary protrusions were recruited and occlusal-based multi-sectional templates were applied in the surgeries. The cephalometric analysis and 3D superimposition were performed to evaluate the differences between the simulations and actual post-operative outcomes. The patients were followed-up for 12 months to evaluate the incidence rate of complications and relapse.

Bimaxillary protrusion was corrected in all patients with no complication. In radiographic evaluations, there was no statistically significant difference between the actual operations and the computer-aided 3D simulations (p>0.05, the mean linear and angular differences were less than 1.32mm and 1.72° consequently, and 3D superimposition difference was less than 1.4mm). The Pearson intraclass correlation coefficient reliabilities were high (0.897), and the correlations were highly significant (P< 0.001).

The 3D printed surgical template designed in this study can safely and accurately transfer the computer-aided 3D simulation into real practice.