Use of 3D Printing Model for the Management of Fibrous Dysplasia: Preliminary Case Study

Fibrous dysplasia is a relatively rare disease but the management would be quite challenging. Because this is not a malignant tumor, the preservation of the facial contour and the various functions seems to be important in treatment planning. Until now the facial bone reconstruction with autogenous bone would be the standard. Although the autogenous bone would be the ideal one for facial bone reconstruction, donor site morbidity would be the inevitable problem in many cases. Meanwhile, various types of allogenic and alloplastic materials have been also used. However, facial bone reconstruction with many alloplastic material have produced no less complications including infection, exposure, and delayed wound healing. Because the 3D printing technique evolved so fast that 3D printed titanium implant were possible recently. The aim of this trial is to try to restore the original maxillary anatomy as possible using the 3D printing model, based on the mirrored three dimensional CT images based on the computer simulation. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) data were processed for the patient and a rapid prototyping (RP) model was produced. At the same time, the uninjured side was mirrored and superimposed onto the traumatized side, to create a mirror-image of the RP model. And we molded Titanium mesh to reconstruct three-dimensional maxillary structure during the operation. This prefabricated Titanium-mesh implant was then inserted onto the defected maxilla and fixed. Three dimensional printing technique of titanium material based on the computer simulation turned out to be successful in this patient. Individualized approach for each patient could be an ideal way to restore the facial bone.