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Updated: Aug 26, 2025
3D Planning and Printing of Patient Specific Implants for Reconstruction of Bony Defects
Published on: August 4, 2020
The comprehensive on-demand 3D bio-printing for composite reconstruction of mandibular defects
Han Ick Park1, Jee-Ho Lee2, Sang Jin Lee3
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, South Korea.
Background:
The mandible is a functional bio-organ that supports facial structures and helps mastication and speaking. Large mandible defects, generally greater than 6-cm segment loss, may require composite tissue reconstruction such as osteocutaneous-vascularized free flap which has a limitation of additional surgery and a functional morbidity at the donor site. A 3D bio-printing technology is recently developed to overcome the limitation in the composite reconstruction of the mandible using osteocutaneous-vascularized free flap.
Review:
Scaffold, cells, and bioactive molecules are essential for a 3D bio-printing. For mandibular reconstruction, materials in a 3D bio-printing require mechanical strength, resilience, and biocompatibility. Recently, an integrated tissue and organ printing system with multiple cartridges are designed and it is capable of printing polymers to reinforce the printed structure, such as hydrogel.
Conclusion:
For successful composite tissue reconstruction of the mandible, biologic considerations and components should be presented with a comprehensive on-demand online platform model of customized approaches.
