Custom made cutting guides and osteosynthesis plates versus CAD/CAM occlusal splints in positioning and fixation of...

The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of maxilla positioning in orthognathic surgery with the use of custom-made devices (cutting guides and patient-fitted osteosynthesis plates) comparing to CAD/CAM splints. A prospective randomized study was performed. Patients with dentofacial deformities undergoing orthognathic surgery were compared, using customized guides (experimental group) vs. CAD/CAM surgical splints (control group) for the repositioning of the upper maxilla. Preoperative and postoperative CT scans were used to compare positioning and fixation of the maxilla in the three planes of space. A total of 30 patients were included in the study (15 patients in each study group). The mean error obtained with customized guides was 0.8 mm (range 0.1-1.9) in the anterior-posterior axis, 0.4 mm (range 0-1.4) in the vertical axis and 0.2 mm (range 0-1.1) in the horizontal axis. There were statistically significant differences in the anterior-posterior and vertical axes in favour of the customized implants, whereas there were no differences in the horizontal plane. Furthermore, there was a mean reduction of the operative time of 36.5 min in the experimental group. Within the limitations of the study it seems that patient specific surgical guides should be preferred when accuracy of repositioning of the maxilla and saving operative time are the priority.