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3D-Printed "Jigsaw Puzzle" in Craniomaxillofacial Comminuted Fracture Reduction
Tien-Hsiang Wang, Wen-Chan Yu1, Yu-Chung Shih
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|January 9, 2025
Summary
3D-printed "jigsaw puzzles" aid surgeons in complex facial fracture repair. This innovative technique allows for better preoperative planning and simulation, improving surgical outcomes for challenging craniomaxillofacial fractures.
Area of Science:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Surgical treatment of comminuted and multiple facial fractures presents significant challenges in bone anatomy identification and alignment restoration.
- 3D-printed models, termed
- jigsaw puzzles
- have been developed to enhance surgical outcomes in complex cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of using 3D-printed models for facial fracture restoration.
- To evaluate the potential of 3D-printed models in improving surgical planning and execution for craniomaxillofacial fractures.
Main Methods:
- Patients with traumatic craniomaxillofacial fractures (excluding mandibular, greenstick, isolated, and revision cases) were included.
- Fine-cut CT images were used to create 3D models for virtual surgical planning.
- Major bone fragments were 3D printed as "jigsaw puzzle" pieces for simulation and assembly with plates and screws, mirroring surgical rehearsals.
Main Results:
- Nine patients with craniomaxillofacial fractures (2 zygomaticomaxillary complex, 7 multiple fractures) were analyzed.
- No significant postoperative complications requiring revision surgery were observed.
- Mean operative time was 391 minutes for the 3D model group and 435 minutes for the control group, with no statistically significant difference.
Conclusions:
- 3D-printed "jigsaw puzzles" enable comprehensive preoperative planning and simulation for complex craniomaxillofacial fractures.
- These models provide surgeons with a real-time reference for accurate facial bone reduction.
- The study supports the feasibility of utilizing 3D-printed models in managing challenging fracture cases.
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