'Puzzle' cutting guides for minimally invasive Le Fort I: technical note

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Orthognathic surgery has seen significant advancements over the past two decades, largely driven by 3D technology.
• 3D technology has enhanced surgical planning, predictability, and precision in orthognathic procedures.
• Patient-specific implants (PSI) and cutting guides offer alternatives to conventional methods, improving surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an innovative cutting guide design for Le Fort I osteotomy.
• To address the limitation of extensive incisions associated with current 3D-printed hardware in maxillofacial surgery.
• To facilitate a minimally invasive approach to Le Fort I osteotomy.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel, patient-specific cutting guide.
• Application of the guide in a minimally invasive Le Fort I osteotomy.
• Evaluation of the guide's efficacy in achieving osteotomy with reduced invasiveness.

Main Results:

• The innovative cutting guide design enables a minimally invasive approach to Le Fort I osteotomy.
• This approach potentially reduces the need for extensive incisions previously associated with 3D-guided surgery.
• The technology enhances the effectiveness and applicability of patient-specific solutions in orthognathic surgery.

Conclusions:

• The developed cutting guide represents a significant step towards less invasive orthognathic surgical techniques.
• This innovation addresses a key limitation in the adoption of 3D technology in maxillofacial surgery.
• Further research and clinical application are warranted to validate the long-term benefits of this minimally invasive approach.