Virtual Bending of Mandibular Reconstruction Plates Using a Computer-Aided Design
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of virtually designing and manufacturing a template for reconstruction plate bending, to be used during treatment of congenital or acquired bony entities. The outcome was compared with plates bent by the freehand approach in a stereolithographic skull model.
Materials and Methods
From a computed tomography examination, a polygon skull was created and the corresponding stereolithographic model retrieved. A polygon mesh of a Compact UniLock 2.4-mm plate was obtained from Synthes (Bettlach, Switzerland). The polygon plate was bent virtually around the mandible and rendered in all 3 dimensions, and a template was created. Five 10-hole plates were bent using this template, and five 10-hole plates were bent using a stereolithographic model as the template. The 2 groups were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. P values less than .001 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results
No statistical difference was seen between the 2 methods. The median discrepancy between the 2 groups was 0.1 mm.
Conclusion
Within the constraints of this investigation, by use of a virtually produced template based on a virtually planned reconstruction, it is possible to bend a reconstruction plate with the same degree of accuracy as that of the traditional freehand approach.
⁎Consultant, Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Faculty, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
†Professor, Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Faculty, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Dérand: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Mälarsjukhuset, S-631 88, Eskilstuna, Sweden
This study was supported by grants from the Research of the County Council of Västmanland, Sweden.
ABSTRACT