Use of three-dimensional printing for the osteoplastic flap approach: A viable technique

The osteoplastic flap technique is the open and direct approach to the frontal sinus and is especially useful when disease extends laterally into the frontal sinus. One of the vital steps of surgery is delineation of the boundary of the frontal sinus. This can usually be performed either by using the classical 6-ft Caldwell view X-ray template or more recently by application of the image-guided navigation system. The present article describes an alternative technique of using 3D printing technology for preoperative creation of the onlay template to mark the limits of the frontal sinus during osteoplastic flap technique and its advantages.