Patient-Specific Implant in Prosthetic Craniofacial Reconstruction

Abstract

Application of prefabricated patient-specific implants offers prospectively an ideal tool for retaining craniofacial prostheses and should be considered a viable option in standard cases, but obligatory in anatomically demanding defects.

Systematic Review of Clinical Applications of CAD/CAM Technology for Craniofacial Implants Placement and Manufacturing of Nasal Prostheses

“…Furthermore, 238 studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria; therefore, an additional 217 studies were excluded based on their study design and rehabilitation techniques (craniofacial surgical reconstruction with titanium plates, mesh and ceramic implants, craniofacial prosthetic rehabilitation without digital solutions, prosthetic rehabilitation of intra-oral defects, and short communications without digital techniques). A total of 21 studies [9,19,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] involving 23 cases were planned and executed with digital planning software for prosthetic rehabilitation of nasal defects (Table 1). Due to the included studies' quality and data heterogeneity, meta-analysis could not be performed.…”

“…Toso et al 2015 [26] The patient-specific implant was inserted successfully by a paranasal and glabella approach.…”

“…3D Systems Corporation, Rock Hill, SC, USA;25 . Rexcan 3; Solutionix Co., Seoul, South Korea;26 . MDX-40; Roland DG, Shizuoka-ken, Japan;27 .…”

Image once, print thrice? Three-dimensional printing of replacement parts

“…Anaplastologists are able to work with reconstructive surgeons to design aesthetically pleasing artificial body parts or facial subunits that adhere to permanent implants if more complex reconstruction is not an option or not desired. 38 Radiologists need to be familiar with 3D printing, as we anticipate that there will be increased demand for pre-operative planning and implant creation. 46 Radiologists may be able to guide imaging parameters, improve patient outcomes and help establish reimbursable procedural terminology.…”

“…Anaplastologists and surgeons worked together with industry to rapidly prototype a titanium implant that was secured to the skull base and midface and subsequently covered with non-biologic, artificial soft tissue (Figure 9). 38 Printing biological scaffolds Bioprinting is the act of rapid prototyping with cells or biologically active matrices. The development of solvent-free, aqueous-based systems enabled the direct printing of biological materials into 3D scaffolds that could be used for transplantation with or without cells.…”