A Transporter Guide for Cortical Plate Placement in the Split Bone Block Technique: A Technical Report and Case...

Increasing complexity of bone defects and bone augmentation procedures poses significant chal-lenges for proper handling and stabilization of bone grafts, especially within the split bone block technique (SBBT). Integrating digital tools and techniques has significantly advanced bone regen-eration and augmentation procedures, offering new possibilities to address these challenges effec-tively. This case series and technical report presents a method for transporting cortical bone blocks and evaluating the bone gain at reentry. It introduces a transporter guide designed to facilitate the precise placement of cortical bone plates and improve surgical outcomes. Six cases were evaluat-ed to assess graft stability, complications, and postsurgical bone augmentation. Computer-aided design and 3D-printing manufacturing were utilized to develop surgical guides for bone harvesting, transporter guides, and biomodels, optimizing the adaptation and fixation of cortical plates. Post-operative CBCT scans demonstrated minimal discrepancies between planned and achieved out-comes, with the mesial region showing greater variation than the distal area. The transporter guide streamlined the surgical workflow and reduced intraoperative errors. These findings suggest that the transporter guide facilitates safer, more predictable outcomes for the SBBT by reducing surgical complexity and improving the precision of graft positioning and stabilization.