Low Fused Deposition Modelling 3D Printing for Mandibular Oncology — The Association Specialists
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  2. Session 5 - Implants and TMJ
  3. Low Fused Deposition Modelling 3D Printing for Mandibular Oncology

Low Fused Deposition Modelling 3D Printing for Mandibular Oncology (#45)

Anthony Barberi 1
  1. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Vic, Australia

Background

Surgical planning using 3-dimensional printed anatomical models is a relatively new but rapidly progressing area of medicine. However, due to the high cost of commercial 3D printers and long lead-times of up to 3 weeks in the manufacturing process, mainstream use of this technology is limited and often reserved for high risk, complicated cases.  Recently, low cost consumer-level Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) 3D printers are becoming increasingly more capable of producing complicated models.

Objectives

Our objective is to show that consumer level FDM 3D printing can provide similar results to commercial models with significantly decreased cost and time.

Methods

Our case series utilised an unmodified, consumer-level, low-cost FDM 3D printer and free, open source software. Using this we were able to create plastic replicas of patients’ mandibles affected by intraosseous tumours (ameloblastomas and squamous cell carcinomas). These models were then utilised for surgical planning and to prebend mandibular reconstruction plates prior to resective surgery.

Principal Findings

We found that using this technique, 3D printed models of mandibles could be accurately printed by using high-res CT facial bones.

Obtaining a 3D model, including preparation of the 3D model on the computer, print time and post-printing preparation of the mandible models was achievable in less than 12 hours.

Models were found to be dimensionally accurate and were successfully utilised in prebending mandibular reconstruction plates accurately for patients undergoing mandibular resection for intraosseous pathology, enabling easy operative1 1  planning and reducing surgical time.

Conclusion 

Whilst 3D printing mandibles for resection planning and prebending of reconstruction plates is not new, our techniques show that it can become significantly more affordable and accessible to maxillofacial surgeons. Further research is required to see if this technique can be applied accurately in midface fractures, or indeed extended to other medical and surgical specialties.

  1. Adir Cohen et al. Mandibular reconstruction using stereolithographic 3-dimensional printing modeling technology, Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology, Volume 108, Issue 5, November 2009, Pages 661-666, ISSN 1079-2104
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