Surgical Guide Splint Fabrication via Virtual Surgical Planning for Complex Mandible Fractures in the Trauma Setting

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Significantly displaced or comminuted mandible fractures often require surgical intervention.
• Traditional fixation methods using intraoperatively bent plates can be error-prone.
• Maxillomandibular fixation is an alternative but can be less ideal than pre-injury occlusion restoration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the utility of Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) and patient-specific surgical guide splints in managing complex facial trauma.
• To present a case study highlighting the successful application of VSP in treating severe mandible fractures.
• To emphasize the benefits of VSP-guided splinting in achieving optimal occlusion and functional recovery.

Main Methods:

• A 38-year-old male with bilateral mandibular angle fractures and a free-floating anterior mandible segment was treated.
• Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) software was utilized for virtual reconstruction and to design a custom surgical guide splint.
• Preoperative bending of reconstruction plates was facilitated by a framework derived from VSP.

Main Results:

• Open reduction internal fixation with a lingual guide splint was performed 10 days post-injury.
• The pre-bent reconstruction plate was successfully applied, restoring occlusion.
• The splint was maintained for 3 weeks, allowing a regular diet and showing no complications.

Conclusions:

• Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) offers significant advantages in managing complex facial trauma, particularly mandible fractures.
• Patient-specific surgical guide splints, designed via VSP, enhance the accuracy of fracture fixation and occlusion.
• This technical study supports the expanded use of VSP and surgical guide splinting in trauma settings.