3D printed surgical guides and virtual surgical planning (VSP) have been used in many types of procedures, such as knee replacement, spinal surgery, and reconstruction of chest walls and faces. But when it comes to reconstructing complex maxillofacial deformities, this kind of computer-aided technology is used far more often for bony reconstruction than for soft tissue.

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A team of researchers from the University of Michigan published a paper, “ Using a 3D Printed “Phantom of the Opera” Soft Tissue Surgical Guide for Complex Facial Reconstruction ,” about their work utilizing VSP and 3D printed guides to help a patient suffering complex soft tissue damage from a gunshot wound. “In ballistic injuries there is often disfiguring damage to the soft tissue, with destruction of anatomic landmarks making satisfactory soft tissue reconstruction a unique challenge,” the abstract states. “By combining tangible surgical models and aesthetic judgment in […]

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