The accuracy of three-dimensional rapid prototyped surgical template guided anterior segmental osteotomy

BACKGROUND: Surgical guiding templates provided a reliable way to transfer the simulation to the actual operation. However, there was no template designed for anterior segmental osteotomy so far. The study aimed to introduce and evaluate a set of 3D rapid prototyping surgical templates used in anterior segmental osteotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From August 2015 to August 2017, 17 patients with bimaxillary protrusions were recruited and occlusal-based multi-sectional templates were applied in the surgeries. The cephalometric analysis and 3D superimposition were performed to evaluate the differences between the simulations and actual post-operative outcomes. The patients were followed-up for 12 months to evaluate the incidence rate of complications and relapse. RESULTS: Bimaxillary protrusion was corrected in all patients with no complication. In radiographic evaluations, there was no statistically significant difference between the actual operations and the computer-aided 3D simulations (p >0.05, the mean linear and angular differences were less than 1.32mm and 1.72° consequently, and 3D superimposition difference was less than 1.4mm). The Pearson intraclass correlation coefficient reliabilities were high (0.897), and the correlations were highly significant (P< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The 3D printed surgical template designed in this study can safely and accurately transfer the computer-aided 3D simulation into real practice. Key words:CAD/CAM; anterior segmental osteotomy; surgical guiding templates; bimaxillary protrusion; virtual surgery simulation.