British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Short communicationRapid prototyping and patient-specific pre-contoured reconstruction plate for comminuted fractures of the mandible
Introduction
To maintain dental occlusion, spatial position, and bony contour after extensive injuries to the mandible and continuity defects, proper adaptation of reconstruction plates is essential. For mandibular reconstruction after resection of cancer, the use of rapid-prototyping to construct 3-dimensional stereolithographic models for patient-specific, pre-bent reconstruction plates has been well described and is now common.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 We describe what may be the first reported use of a rapid-prototype model and patient-specific, pre-bent reconstruction plate in a patient with a complex mandibular injury.
Section snippets
Case history
A 41-year-old man presented with a bilateral fracture of the mandible after a seizure. He was well known to the department, and had been treated about 4 months earlier for a fracture of the right parasymphysis of the mandible. Clinical and radiological examination showed a comminuted fracture of the left mandibular ramus and condyle, and a displaced fracture of the right parasymphysis, and we suspected non-union from the previous fracture. There was an osteosynthesis plate at the left angle of
Discussion
The patient's extensive mandibular injuries could have been managed using more traditional techniques. Prolonged immobilisation for intermaxillary fixation was deemed unsafe given his medical history, together with his excessive alcohol consumption and drug use. The use of load-bearing plates is well understood in comminuted mandibular fractures, so multiple miniplates were deemed inappropriate.
The benefits of rapid prototyping5, 6 and precontoured reconstruction plates have been well-described,
Conflict of interest
We have no conflicts of interest.
Ethics statement/confirmation of patient's permission
All personal or identifying patient details have been removed.
References (7)
- et al.
Use of a stereolithography model for accurate, pre-operative adaptation of a reconstruction plate
J Oral Maxillofac Surg
(2000) - et al.
Computer-assisted design and rapid-prototype modeling in microvascular mandble reconstruction
Laryngoscope
(2013) - et al.
Mandible reconstruction using patient-specific pre-bent reconstruction plates: comparison of standard and transfer key methods
Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg
(2015)
Cited by (9)
Titanium Mesh Shaping and Fixation for the Treatment of Comminuted Mandibular Fractures
2016, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryCitation Excerpt :Previous studies showed that comminuted mandibular fractures can be successfully treated by a number of methods, including ORIF, closed treatment with IMF, or external pin fixation, when applied under the appropriate circumstances.1,2 Many new methods and techniques, such as rapid prototyping and a low-profile locking mandibular reconstruction plate system, also have been applied to improve the surgical effects in recent years.8,9 However, many complications, including infection, malocclusion, and bone nonunion, have been reported in cases of comminuted mandibular fractures.10
Three-dimensional printing in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery
2022, National Journal of Maxillofacial SurgeryDigital planning and individual implants for secondary reconstruction of midfacial deformities: A pilot study
2022, Laryngoscope Investigative OtolaryngologyOpen Reduction and Internal Fixation Strategy For Treatment of Comminuted Mandibular Fracture
2021, Journal of Craniofacial SurgeryCombined Use of Specially-Designed Digital Surgical Guides and Pre-Formed Reconstruction Plate to Treat Bilateral Mandibular Fracture
2019, Journal of Craniofacial Surgery