Computer-guided contouring of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia involving fronto-orbital or fronto-cranial region using patient specific surgical depth guide: A prospective case series

Abstract

The aim of this study was to introduce a new computer guided technique for debulking and contouring the craniofacial fibrous dysplasia involving the fronto-orbital and fronto-cranial regions.Computer-guided contouring was performed using a modified patient-specific surgical depth guide for six patients with craniofacial fibrous dysplasia involving the fronto-orbital and fronto-cranial regions. Virtual planning was performed to determine the desired amount of bone removal and construct the patient-specific surgical depth guide. Then, the guide was printed using rapid prototyping. In the surgical theatre, the guide was seated in position. Implant drills were inserted through the created depth holes according to the planned fixed depth to create depth holes. Finally, the bone in between the created holes was removed using cutting discs, bone chisels and surgical burs. Satisfaction with facial aesthetics was evaluated by the patients using a Likert scale, and by the surgeons using the Whitaker rating scale. The surgical procedures were uneventful for all the patients. All the patients were satisfied with the post-operative facial esthetics and categorized as category I Whitaker rating scale.Patient-specific surgical guide technique for recontouring of fronto-orbital and fronto-cranial fibrous dysplasia can be considered an accurate substitution technique that overcomes the drawbacks of the unpredictable conventional one. Further investigations are required.