The accuracy of patient specific implant prebented with 3D-printed rapid prototype model for orbital wall reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the accuracy of blow out fracture reduction using 3D-printed rapid prototyping (RP) skull modeling.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review was performed for 82 patients who underwent post-traumatic orbital wall fracture reduction between 2012 and 2014. Patients were divided into two groups according to the use of 3D-printed RP skull model reproduced by mirroring technique, onto which a titanium mesh was anatomically molded. Using computed tomographic scans, the areas of pre- and post-operative orbital wall defect, the layout angles of the titanium mesh, and the gap lengths between the implant and fracture margin were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: Of the 82 patients identified, 46 and 36 were diagnosed with medial and inferior orbital wall fractures, respectively. Bone defect area of the RP group was significantly reduced in comparison with that of the conventional group (8.03 ± 3.5% versus 18.7 ± 15.41% for medial wall fractures, 7.14 ± 5.74% versus 12.8 ± 4.92% for inferior wall fractures, respectively, p < 0.01). Satisfactory results were achieved regarding the layout angles and the gap lengths, presenting significantly reduced values in the RP group compared to that in the conventional group (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: More accurate restoration of traumatic orbital wall fractures can be achieved using patient-specific 3D-printed RP skull models.