OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects and accuracy of three-dimensionally (3D)-printed patient-specific surgical plates used for mandibular defect reconstruction.
METHODS: This study included patients who underwent mandibular defect reconstruction with vascularized autogenous bone grafts between January 2012 and August 2021. They were divided into experimental (fixation with 3D-printed surgical plates) and control (fixation with conventional surgical plates) groups. Flap survival rate, postoperative complications and patient self-evaluated facial appearance were compared. Mandibular reconstruction accuracy evaluation included postoperative position deviation of the whole mandible, transplanted bone graft, lower mandibular border, mandibular condyle, and mandibular angle on the reconstructed side compared to baseline.
RESULTS: This study included 20 patients (14 males, six females; age, 39.45 ± 11.69 years), ten each in the experimental and control groups. The mean follow-up was 16 ± 22.05 (range, 6-99) months. All procedures were successful, no plate-related complications (breakage, loosening, or exposure of the surgical plates) were reported, and all patients were satisfied. The groups were statistically similar in th e position deviation of the whole mandible, transplanted bone graft, mandibular condyle, and mandibular angle, but the position and morphology of the lower mandibular border on the reconstructed side in the experimental group were better than those in the control group (P = 0.016).
CONCLUSIONS: 3D-printed patient-specific surgical plates could be applied in mandibular reconstruction safely and effectively, simplifying the surgical procedure, shortening the preoperative preparation times, achieving satisfactory outcomes, and improving the clinical effects and accuracy of individualized mandibular reconstruction.