Patient-specific Composite Anatomic Models: Improving the Foundation for Craniosynostosis Repair

Abstract

Preoperative surgical planning incorporating computer-aided design and manufacturing is increasingly being utilized today within the fields of craniomaxillofacial, orthopedic, and neurosurgery. Application of these techniques for craniosynostosis reconstruction can include patient-specific anatomic reference models, “normal” reference models or patient-specific cutting/marking guides based on the presurgical plan. The major challenge remains the lack of tangible means to transfer the preoperative plan to the operating table. We propose a simple solution to utilize a digitally designed, 3D-printed “composite model” as a structural template for cranial vault reconstruction. The composite model is generated by merging the abnormal patient cranial anatomy with the “dural surface topography” of an age-matched, sex-matched, and ethnicity-matched normative skull model. We illustrate the applicability of this approach in 2 divergent cases: 22-month-old African American male with sagittal synostosis and 5-month-old White male with metopic synostosis. The aim of this technical report is to describe our application of this computer-aided design and modeling workflow for the creation of practical 3D-printed skulls that can serve as intraoperative frameworks for the correction of craniosynostosis. With success in our first 2 cases, we believe this approach of a composite model is another step in reducing our reliance on subjective guesswork, and the fundamental aspect of the workflow has a wider application within the field of craniofacial surgery for both clinical patient care and education.