Use of patient-specific 3D printed models in pre-operative counseling for pediatric skull base surgery

Pediatric cranial base pathology is anatomically complex and surgical treatment is oftentimes difficult to conceptualize for patients and their families. Three-dimensional (3D) models of the sinuses and cranial base have the potential to enhance patient understanding in numerous domains. Our objective is to assess the use of 3D models in pre-operative parental and patient counseling prior to endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery in the pediatric population.

A survey was designed to assess parent and patient-perceived utility of 3D-printed models in surgical counseling prior to pediatric skull base surgery.

A total of 10 patients were included. The median age was 9 years (range = 5 months-15 years). Pathology included juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) (N = 4), fibrous dysplasia of the maxilla and sphenoid (N = 1), juvenile ossifying fibroma (N = 1), nasal dermoid (N = 2, one with intracranial extension), encephalocele (N = 1), and parapharyngeal ectopic glial tissue (N = 1). Nearly all parents agreed or strongly agreed that 3D printed models were helpful in explaining the patient's skull base pathology (N = 10), surgical plan (N = 10), and possible complications (N = 9). All parents strongly agreed that 3D models should be used routinely in pre-operative counseling for endoscopic endonasal surgery. According to a majority of parents, patients older than 4 years old found the models helpful in understanding their pathology (75%) and surgery (88%).

By allowing direct three-dimensional visualization of the target pathology, 3D models serve as a useful adjunct in enhancing patient comprehension of the pathologic entity, planned surgery, and potential complications prior to pediatric endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.