Short-Segment Drilling Guides for the Management Comminuted Mandibular Fractures

Area of Science:

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

Background:

• Severely comminuted mandibular fractures pose significant treatment challenges.
• Existing methods may require complex surgical procedures and longer operating times.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, office-based workflow for managing complex mandibular fractures.
• To integrate virtual surgical planning with patient-specific short-segment drilling guides.

Main Methods:

• Virtual surgical planning was used to virtually reduce the fractures.
• A 3D-printed model of the mandible was created for pre-contouring reconstruction plates.
• Custom short-segment drilling guides were fabricated for precise screw hole placement.
• The workflow was implemented in an office-based setting.

Main Results:

• The workflow facilitated precise reduction of comminuted mandibular fractures.
• The use of pre-bent plates and custom guides streamlined the surgical procedure.
• Operation time was reduced due to simplified operative steps.

Conclusions:

• This novel workflow offers a precise and efficient method for treating severely comminuted mandibular fractures.
• The combination of virtual planning and custom drilling guides enhances surgical outcomes.
• The office-based approach demonstrates feasibility and potential for improved patient care.