INDIVIDUALIZED SURGICAL GUIDANCE FOR MANDIBULAR RECONSTRUCTION USING 3D FEA/PRINTING TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

The state-of-the-art surgery makes it possible to transfer tissue from donor site to recipient sites for reconstruction. In particular, free fibula becomes one of the common methods to repair mandibular (i.e., lower jawbone) defects. To guide one individual surgery, the 3D printing and finite element analysis (FEA) technologies have been employed in this study. The personalized model of titanium plate with screws was designed on the basis of computed tomography data with the help of the reverse engineering technology and 3D computational model via the PRO/E software. In order to refine the model, FEA results were used to guide the operation plan. Finally, the 3D-printed scaffold was used in the surgery. In conclusion, 3D printing technology and FEA for mandibular reconstruction surgery guidance can achieve good matches among fibula, human mandible and titanium plates, restore mandible functions, reduce the operation time and improve the success rate of surgery. Furthermore, this technology gives more freedom for physicians to discuss surgical plans with patients.